The potential for a merger between the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has been a topic of discussion in the sports world for the past two years, beginning in 2019, without any definitive indication as to whether or not it will take place.
Earlier this year, the Front Office Sports even revealed that the two associations allegedly held merger discussions in 2021 centered on a $600 million contract with the private equity firm CVC and that the WTA tour has already laid out a plan to achieve equal compensation with the men’s ATP Tour by 2033.
Tennis icons’ on ATP=WTA merger
Tennis stars have also weighed in on the merger, including seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe, who predicted that the two tours would merge much earlier.
“Now you see a situation where I believe in the next five years you’re going to have the men and women tour together. I believe they’re going to merge at some point soon,” said McEnroe. “It does seem it’s sort of inevitable at some stage.”
Twenty-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer also chimed in back in 2020, tweeting on X: ‘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?’
Another renowned tennis figure who founded the WTA, Billie Jean King, also wrote: ‘Let’s make it happen,” as per SportsPro.
Former World No. 1 Maria Sharapova, however, had a different take. In her interview with Bloomberg Screentime host Jason Kelly just this month, she stated that the merger wouldn’t happen soon.
“That’s not going to happen. Not soon,” Sharapova said.
Latest update on merger: Yuri Polsky speaks out
This week, the tennis sports community was once again stirred when Kazakhstan Tennis Federation Vice President Yuri Polsky spoke out regarding the impending ATP-WTA merger. Polsky stated that the whole merger would be a win-win situation for both, as “soon-to-be bankrupt” WTA would get a lifeline, while the ATP would get to keep their reputation.
Via The Tennis Letter: “For the WTA it is a matter of survival, for the ATP – a matter of reputation. ATP leaders don’t want the WTA to collapse because the optics would be bad. The ATP is in good financial shape, the tour has reserved, the players have retirement funds. The ATP is exploring its options, the question is, on what conditions could the merger be achieved? It is unclear what ATP’s share in the merger would be & to what extent the ATP is willing to subsidize the WTA,” Polsky said.
WTA could go bankrupt by 2026
Kazakhstan Tennis Federation VP, Yuri Polsky:
“They are in a very bad place & could even go bankrupt in 2026 or 2027 if their financial situation doesn't change.”
He also says WTA’s financial struggles are the reason why they’re focused on… pic.twitter.com/EeUI6WyRaW
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 22, 2023
WTA denies Yuri Polsky’s bankruptcy claims
In response to Polsky’s bankruptcy claims, WTA chief executive Steve Simon refuted that the association is in financial trouble and that a merger isn’t being considered, crushing all merger allegations once and for all.
“The WTA is in a healthy financial position, a merger with the ATP is not under consideration, & we are excited about our strong future during which we will continue to grow & expand women’s tennis. Earlier this year, the WTA announced an increase of $400 million in compensation to players over the next 10 years maintaining the WTA’s position as the leading women’s sports organization globally,” Simon said, according to Sports Poland.
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