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Roger Federer’s proposal to combine the ATP and WTA tours is one of the hottest topics on the tennis scene during Corona’s break.
Federer’s concerns receive strong support from teammate Andy Murray. “It’s a great sign that more and more men consider a merger to be a step in the right direction,” says the Scotsman on CNN. “Tennis is already unique in this regard because the big events for men and women take place in the same place, at the same time and with the same prize,” said Murray. This is very attractive to fans and sponsors. “The two genres attract practically the same number of viewers, which is also rare in the world of sports,” continues the triple winner of the Grand Slam.
Murray, who once hired Amélie Mauresmo as the first male player to coach a woman, is also aware of the obstacles that still stand in the way of a merger. The highest is likely to be money. While women and men actually raise the same amount at all four Grand Slams and at major tourist events like Indian Wells or Miami, there is still a pay gap at other events. For example: Rafael Nadal won $ 1.05 million last year at the Rogers Cup in Canada. Women’s champion Bianca Andreescu had to settle for $ 521,000.
Better little money than equality
There are always efforts not only to increase the prize money but also to align it. However, some men encounter resistance, as Murray explains: “I have often spoken to colleagues who are not happy with the same award.” Murray would answer yes to many men by answering the question of whether they would prefer not to increase rather than equality. “We have to deal with such opinions. There are really men who prefer to earn less than accept equality, “says world number 129.
Despite all the financial differences, in addition to Federer, Murray and Nadal, the two ATP and WTA chiefs have already committed to even closer collaboration, but without directly demanding a merger. The theme will keep the tennis scene busy for a while. Finally, the ATP and WTA tours will not start operating again until July 13 at the earliest. (cmü)
