Attack on the ATP: Will there be a super tour in tennis soon?

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In 1972, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) was founded. The players’ association has been organizing the men’s tournaments ever since. But lately she has been criticized again and again.

The reasons for this are diverse. Carlos Alcaraz (20, Sp) finds it crazy how many different balls are played with. The differences lead to more injuries among athletes. The calendar is too full for Stan Wawrinka (38, Sz) and Alexander Zverev (26, De). Zverev told Eurosport: “I have been on tour for ten years now and we have discussed how we can make the season ten years shorter. Only: the opposite happens.”

Top players are missing from major tournaments

The result: more and more top players are skipping important tournaments such as the Masters 1000. Also because they last longer and longer. However, this does not only apply to the Masters. Even the Australian Open is being extended from 14 to 15 days. Officially to avoid long night sessions. But it’s more likely to generate more money. The same could be behind the rumors that Saudi Arabia will host a tenth Masters 1000 tournament. A first step in this direction was awarding the next-gen finale to the desert state.

But the ATP’s lack of communication with its players and the fact that they are not involved in important decisions also causes dissatisfaction.

New Masters in Saudi Arabia?

This dissatisfaction could now lead to a revolution. As American tennis journalist Jon Wertheim writes on X, there are rumors that the biggest tournaments could split from the ATP. Accordingly, the four Grand Slams Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open should join forces and form a new super tour together with the nine Masters 1000 tournaments. This plan requires money. Which in turn plays into the hands of Saudi Arabia. An investment could see the desert state become involved in the new tour as host of a tenth Masters tournament. And what happens to the ATP? They would still have their 500cc and 250cc tournaments as well as the best of the year finals.

The idea behind this new super tour: the Grand Slams should be strengthened and more money should be distributed among the players. Because the Grand Slams are independent of the ATP. They are organized by the federations of their host country and the ITF.

How players react to this new idea remains to be seen. And also whether it will ever come to that. (beer)

Source : Blick