Pro Tours Should Help Improve Tennis

Written by: Staff on 29th April 2013

Pro Tours Should Help Improve Tennis

epa03625011 Roger Federer of Switzerland returns a shot to Rafael Nadal of Spain during their match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 14 March 2013. EPA/PAUL BUCK |

Recent months have seen all four Grand Slam events respond to the player’s calls for greater remuneration in the form of increased prize money at the four majors. Now the focus falls upon the ATP World Tour and WTA to make a greater contribution to the future welfare of their players.

This suggestion came from All England Club chairman Philip Brook in the wake of last week’s announcement that Wimbledon 2013 will see 40% overall increase on last year’s prize money with this summer’s men’s and women’s champions set to receive $2.5 million (GBP1.6m).

Brook could only have made his thoughts clear by mentioning the initials ATP and WTA when he said: “The Grand Slams now account for almost half of all the prize money in professional tennis and the hope is that the rest of the sport will step up now and follow the lead set by Wimbledon and the three other slams.”

The Grand Slam committee as a body now feels it is the responsibility of the ATP World Tour and the WTA Tour to build greater partnerships, secure improved sponsorship and television deals and start offering more resources to younger emergent players.

ATP World Tour board member Justin Gimelstob, vested with the responsibility of representing the interests of the players rather than tournaments, has been a leading advocate for a greater spread of the wealth from the Grand Slams and recognizes that his own organization must respond in turn.

“I am probably as proud of what we have achieved with our partners at the grand slams as anything in my career,” said Gimelstob. “But I agree 100% that we now have to look to our own backyard.

“What Wimbledon did was the single most dramatic statement about the relationships we have forged and all of this would not have been possible without the leadership that Roger Federer has shown in his five years as president of the Player Council. I believe he has achieved a Grand Slam success off the court every bit as imperative for the future of the game as his triumphs on it.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Atp World Tour, Australian Open, French Open, Justin Gimelstob, Roger Federer, US Open, Wimbledon, Wta