• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
Home Sport

Federer suggests merger of women’s and men’s governing bodies

23 April 2020, 6:34 PM  |
Reuters Reuters |  @SABCNews
Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrates after winning the exhibition match against Spain's Rafael Nadal.

Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrates after winning the exhibition match against Spain's Rafael Nadal.

Image: Reuters

Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrates after winning the exhibition match against Spain's Rafael Nadal.

Roger Federer called on Wednesday for a merger between the men’s ATP Tour and the WTA, which runs the women’s circuit, as tennis wades through a lengthy coronavirus shutdown with lower-level professionals in deep financial crisis.

The tennis season was suspended in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the hiatus will continue at least until mid-July, depriving lower-level players, who depend solely on tournament winnings, of the chance to earn a living.

“Just wondering … am I the only one thinking that now is the time for men’s and women’s tennis to be united and come together as one?” the winner of 20 Grand Slam singles titles said on Twitter.

“I am picturing a merger between the WTA and ATP.

“I am not talking about merging competition on the court, but merging the 2 governing bodies (ATP and WTA) that oversee the men’s and women’s professional tours …”

Tennis enjoys a massive worldwide following but its governance remains fractious with as many as seven associations running different parts the game.

Besides the ATP and the WTA Tours, the sport is also controlled by the International Tennis Federation and the boards of the four Grand Slam tournaments.

“It’s too confusing for the fans when there are different ranking systems, different logos, different websites, different tournament categories,” the 38-year-old Swiss continued.

“It probably should have happened a long time ago, but maybe now is really the time.

“These are tough times in every sport and we can come out of this with 2 weakened bodies or 1 stronger body.”

Federer’s comments on the social media were ‘liked’ by both men and women players within minutes.

“I agree, and have been saying so since the early 1970s. One voice, women and men together, has long been my vision for tennis,” American great Billie Jean King, who created the WTA in 1973, said on Twitter.

“The WTA on its own was always Plan B. I’m glad we are on the same page. Let’s make it happen.”

While tennis is a lucrative sport for those at the top, those in the lower echelons often struggle to make ends meet and with no signs of when the sport can resume again, they face a bleak future.

The ATP Tour, the WTA, along with the ITF and organisers of the four Grand Slams, have in recent weeks joined forces to create a relief fund to help the lower-level players affected by the shutdown.

Novak Djokovic, the head of the ATP player council, said he feared many in the lower tier will give up the sport and called on fellow professionals to help them.

ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi recently said it was extremely important that his organisation works closely with its women’s counterparts.

“The most difficult (part), is actually to align the stakeholders,” the Italian, formerly a top-20 singles player, said in an ATP podcast.

“Players and tournaments currently, in the past, have been spending most of their time trying to solve internal conflicts. That is where most of the time, energy and resources were spent, while in reality, our competition lays outside.

“We compete with other sports, we compete with other entertainment platforms. We need to invest in technology and we need to work more closely with the other organisations, specifically the WTA, the ITF and the other Grand Slams …”

The WTA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Share article
Tags: Roger FedererCOVID-19CoronavirusWTAATP Tour
Previous Post

W Cape Health condemns attack on EMS paramedics

Next Post

Van Niekerk admits being ‘tough’ on wife Kapp over favouritism fears

Related Posts

Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts during the final match against Sebastian Korda of the US at the Adelaide International on January 8, 2023.

Djokovic on Indian Wells entry list but expected to miss out again

9 February 2023, 10:23 AM
Six PSL matches will be played on Saturday.

SAFA launches under 15 inter-provincial tournaments for boys

8 February 2023, 4:28 PM
A soccer ball inside a goal net.

Belgium appoints new soccer head coach

8 February 2023, 11:54 AM
[File Image] South Africa's Shabnim Ismail celebrates with team mates after taking the wicket of England's Sarah Taylor.

All systems go for ICC Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup in Cape Town

7 February 2023, 7:41 PM
Hockey sticks during a match

Proteas women’s hockey team draw World Cup match against the US

7 February 2023, 12:14 PM
Comrades Marathon runners

Comrades Marathon runners happy the race is back to its traditional June date

6 February 2023, 1:50 PM
Next Post
South Africa's Dane van Niekerk celebrates taking the wicket of India's Harmanpreet Kaur.

Van Niekerk admits being 'tough' on wife Kapp over favouritism fears

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • Green comet to be visible from SA next week
  • SA Weather Service warns of maximum temperatures in Cape Town
  • VIDEO: Mabuza resigns as SA Deputy President
  • Weather Service issues severe weather warnings for parts of Eastern Cape, Gauteng
  • Several areas in Gauteng without water
  • Parts of the Northern Cape to be exempted from rolling blackouts
  • Green comet to be visible from SA next week
  • Registration at Unisa closes on Friday, but management says no need to panic
  • VIDEO | St Benedict College’s Matric learner gets 11 distinctions
  • Limpopo matriculant from child-headed household attains diploma pass
  • Weather Service issues severe weather warnings for parts of Eastern Cape, Gauteng
  • Gauteng’s Health Department confirms a third case of cholera in Johannesburg
  • Six Eskom power stations identified as primary cause of rolling blackouts
  • Disruptions to President’s SONA will be firmly dealt with: Mapisa-Nqakula
  • ConCourt declares COVID-19 Tourism Relief Fund unlawful

LATEST

Maria Modiba cooks by a candlelight during one of the frequent power outages
  • SONA 2023
  • Eskom rolling blackouts
  • Business

Warning that rolling blackouts could lead to food shortages


Rain seen on a window.
  • South Africa

EMS on high alert as rainfall set to continue in Johannesburg


A stop and go is seen at the R30 road in Allanridge in the Free State on 09 January 2023.
  • SONA 2023
  • South Africa

Free State residents infuriated by appalling state of roads


Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts during the final match against Sebastian Korda of the US at the Adelaide International on January 8, 2023.
  • Sport

Djokovic on Indian Wells entry list but expected to miss out again


Eni Chief Executive Officer Claudio Descalzi attends a signing ceremony as QatarEnergy joins TotalEnergies and Eni to explore Lebanon's offshore oil and gas, in Beirut, Lebanon January 29, 2023.
  • Africa

Italian prosecutors drop Congo case against Eni CEO


A pregnant woman holds her tummy
  • Sci-tech

Depression during pregnancy becoming a common occurrence for SA women


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2023

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2022

Previous Ambulance W Cape Health condemns attack on EMS paramedics
Next Van Niekerk admits being ‘tough’ on wife Kapp over favouritism fears