ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi has given an update on plans to potentially merge the ATP and WTA.
In an exclusive interview with L’EQUIPE, Gaudenzi who won three titles on the ATP Tour in the 1990s and early 2000s discussed the game’s future in relation to player complaints about scheduling and changes to tennis balls causing injuries.
During the conversation, he made remarks about a big development in 2025 that in his view, was the only way in which tennis could last in the long-term.
Andrea Gaudenzi hints at ATP and WTA merger
The idea was first proposed by Swiss legend Roger Federer who posted on X, then Twitter in 2020 during the COVID-19 Pandemic about the possibility of a merger between the two governing bodies that run the men’s and women’s tours, arguing that tennis could come out of the pandemic as ” 2 weakened bodies or 1 stronger body.”
Supporters for a merger include Billie Jean King and Vasek Pospisil although Nick Kyrgios has voiced opposition in the past.
Gaudenzi argued that there were too many international organisations running tennis and he was open to the possibility of working together as he believed it would benefit tennis in the long run.
He said: “Everyone must sit around the table, the ATP, the WTA, the Grand Slams, the ITF. For me, it is the only way to make tennis last. Currently, there are seven organizations that manage world tennis and that is too many. Everyone makes decisions in their own interest and tennis suffers from it. We are pushing in the direction of a great union.”
Regarding a possible merger, he added: “This is a merger of all the commercial entities of the ATP and the WTA in order to manage, in particular, all the media rights, partnerships and data of the two circuits. The goal is to be operational by the end of 2025. It’s not easy, but I’m optimistic.”
WTA and ATP are in talks with four Grand Slam tournaments
Gaudenzi added that both the men’s and women’s tennis organisations had spoken to the tournament board of directors that organise the four Grand Slams tournaments about the possibility of a merger.
“A merger of the sporting entities would be a little more complicated, which is why we’re starting with the economic part. We’re also talking to the Grand Slams, because I think that if we manage to create a large entity with the WTA, it would be good if the Grand Slams worked with us.”
The Telegraph reported in October that a vote on a merger would soon take place with the possibility that the women’s tour would take home just 20% of the assets.
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