Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley backs Roger Federer on combined tour

Australian tennis boss Craig Tiley has endorsed Roger Federer’s idea for a combined global tennis circuit.

Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley: ‘There is a real chance for change. But you only ever get something if someone is prepared to give something up.’ Picture: Stuart McEvoy

Australian tennis boss Craig Tiley has endorsed a combined global circuit as a utopia for the sport after Roger Federer proposed a merger between the men’s and women’s tours.

The Tennis Australia chief executive and Australian Open tournament director believes a combined ATP and WTA Tour would generate a significant economic boost for the sport.

“If you look at the men’s and the women’s tours, if all the (tennis) bodies could live together, the aggregate of that content would be fairly significant,” Tiley said. “I am sure there would be a greater opportunity for players and for events … than with the current way.

“We are a global sport but to be really competitive with basketball and soccer, this gives that opportunity so that the sport’s revenue could be at their levels.”

Federer sparked debate when he ventured the opinion on Wednesday night that the COVID-19 shutdown provided an opportunity for tours to consider a merger between the regular circuits. This already occurs at the four grand slams, as well as significant tournaments in the United States and Europe, but the tours are run separately with different partners.

“It probably should have happened years ago, but maybe now is really the time,” Federer said.

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

Legends including Billie Jean-King and Rafael Nadal, as well as a number of other past and present players, backed the proposal. Australian Nick Kyrgios raised concerns as to whether it would be good for the ATP Tour and said further consultation was needed.

Given his prominence, Federer’s comments boosted interest in a potential merger, but it is far from the first time the proposal has been aired. As King said, her initial idea when she pushed to introduce the WTA Tour in 1973 was for one overarching body.

There have been varying periods of collaboration or co-operation in the years since, though it is interesting both ATP chief executive Andrea Gaudenzi and his WTA counterpart Steve Simon stressed interest in the concept was real in statements on Thursday.

Tennis Australia has held ongoing discussions with the two bodies about the potential of introducing a women’s version of the ATP Cup, which made a successful debut in January.

There is evidence of increasing collaboration between the grand slam bodies, the International Tennis Federation and the two tours in recent years. But there are also examples to the contrary, such as the revamped Davis Cup and the unilateral decision of the French Federation to reschedule Roland Garros to late September this year.

Tiley is the latest local administrator to ensure equality of the sexes exists in tennis in Australia and he believes it is a significant strength of the sport and its global reach. While optimistic about the growing collaboration, he said there were significant hurdles to overcome for the merger to become a reality, with self-interest one particular obstacle.

Others include the long-term partnerships current events have with governments and cities around the world, as well as broadcast and sponsorship agreements.

“There is a real chance for change. But you only ever get something if someone is prepared to give something up,” Tiley said.