True Equality Will Come with ATP and WTA Merger

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Sunday, July 30, 2023

Andy Murray will not be solely a serious champion, he is championed equality for years.

Murray, whose mom Judy Murray was his authentic coach, is without doubt one of the few high male gamers to have labored with a feminine coach, Corridor of Famer Amelie Mauresmo.

Murray: Full Steam Ahead

Assembly the media at the moment in Washington, DC, Murray was requested to handle the prize cash disparity on the Mubadala Citi DC Open.

Although it is a 500-level match for each the ATP and WTA Excursions, the Washington DC males’s champion will obtain $353,445 whereas the ladies’s winner will money a champion’s verify of $120,150.

General, the Mubadala Citi DC Open’s whole males’s monetary dedication is $2,178,980, whereas the overall ladies’s monetary dedication is $780,637.

Murray, who has lengthy advocated equal pay for women and men in tennis, stated uniting the ATP and WTA as one professional circuit would be the equalizer.

“I am completely behind equal prize cash, and I believe that it’s sensible that a number of the tournaments on the tour that we now have that, and I believe that is actually, actually constructive,” Murray instructed the media in Washinton, DC at the moment. “I believe it’s tough for it ever to turn into really equal till the ATP and the WTA type of truly mix and work collectively.

“That is my feeling, as a result of I do not know what the, you recognize, like what the edge for tournaments is, wish to turn into a 500 on the ATP Tour, if the ATP could have their algorithm as to what ranges they should attain from a prize cash perspective, and I am certain the WTA have their very own.”

Match proprietor Mark Ein says the Mubadala Citi DC Open is dedicated to equal prize cash by 2027.

“I believe one of many issues about tennis that is so particular, clearly, is it is the one sport the place women and men compete on the identical courtroom on the identical time, identical taking part in floor, but it surely by no means felt proper that they have been different-level occasions,” Ein stated. “I am actually proud we have been capable of pull this off, make it the primary mixed 500 on this planet.

“We dedicated to equal prize cash by 2027. The occasion, if it stayed as a stand-alone, it was 2033. So I believe it is a terrific step ahead for tennis and for this occasion.”

The 2-time Olympic gold-medal champion Murray helps equal prize cash, significantly when women and men are taking part in on the identical occasion, however does not envision it utterly taking place till there’s one true unified tour.

“Yeah, like I at all times felt like after we’re competing on the identical occasion on the identical courts, you recognize, that we must be taking part in for a similar prize cash,” Murray stated. “However I believe for it ever to turn into like really equal, the WTA and the ATP are literally going to have to come back collectively and work as one earlier than that is the case, as a result of I do not assume it is that easy simply now that each excursions have completely different sponsors, completely different TV offers, and all of that stuff too.”

Grand Slam champions starting from Billie Jean King to John McEnroe to Chrissie Evert to Roger Federer have supported a mixed tour with McEnroe telling Tennis Now he believes it’s not only inevitable, but will grow tennis when it happens. ATP Chief Andrea Gaudenzi has additionally advocated for a merger.

Again in 2020, Federer famously known as on the ATP and WTA Excursions to hitch forces as one unified governing physique to strengthen the game after the pandemic.

In response to a tweet from @FedererArmy, who wrote “I’d love for the ATP and WTA to merge”, Federer concurred declaring a mixed Tour would create readability and remove confusion for followers, the Swiss famous person concurred.

I agree with you, It’s too complicated for the followers when there are completely different rating techniques, completely different logos, completely different web sites, completely different match classes. https://t.co/zX4XTr9Rr0

— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 22, 2020

It most likely ought to have occurred a very long time in the past, however possibly now’s actually the time.
These are powerful occasions in each sport and we will come out of this with 2 weakened our bodies or 1 stronger physique. https://t.co/30SbbAla5g

— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 22, 2020

“I agree with you,” Federer replied. “It’s too complicated for the followers when there are completely different rating techniques, completely different logos, completely different web sites, completely different match classes. 

It most likely ought to have occurred a very long time in the past, however might now’s actually the time.”

Picture credit score: @QueensClub