"Merging tours doesn’t address the elephant in the room: the Grand Slams": Novak Djokovic-led PTPA director doesn't believe ATP-WTA merger solves main issue
Tennis NewsFriday, 13 October 2023 at 07:30
The head of the Professional
Tennis Players Association (PTPA) Ahmad Nassar believes that merging the ATP and
WTA Tours will not address the ‘elephant’ in the room.
The organization was started by
the current world number one Serbia’s Novak Djokovic who is regarded as the
greatest player in the history of men’s tennis in the Open era, having won as many
as 24 Grand Slam titles.
Nassar was recently quoted in a
report where he stated that the merger of tours will be a first step in the right direction
but it will not solve all the problems as the Grand Slams remain the biggest
earners for all the tennis bodies.
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“Merging tours doesn’t address the
elephant in the room: the Grand Slams,” he stated. “At the end of the day, the
Grand Slams still command the most revenue, attention, and influence.
"If
fragmentation is the tours’ concern, consolidating into one stronger, more
unified product is a first step, but certainly not a final solution to maximizing
tennis’ earning power, relevance and longevity.
“An ATP-WTA merger would make a
lot of sense, with some fairly important caveats. First and foremost, players
still have a need for an independent player-only voice, regardless of whether
the tours remain separate or merge.
“The consolidation of tours would
not change the fact that the ATP and WTA are simultaneously juggling the
interests of players, tournament owners, private equity investors and others.”
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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