Andy Murray supports Roger Federer’s call for a merger of the ATP and WTA tennis associations. The Scottish former number one in the world expects resistance from a few players.
“Many of the top men talk about it and that is promising. But it is important that women also make their voices heard,” said Murray, who has dropped to 129th place in the world ranking due to injuries, in conversation with Saturday CNN.
Federer proposed the amalgamation of the ATP and WTA on Twitter a week and a half ago. He thought the current corona crisis was an ideal time to reform the tennis world and immediately received support from Rafael Nadal on the social media platform.
“I’m wondering, am I the only one who thinks it’s time for the men’s and women’s tennis to become one and move forward together? I’m not talking about a mixed competition on the track, but an amalgamation of the ATP and WTA, “Federer wrote.
Murray anticipates ‘challenges’
Murray also likes that, but thinks that there are quite a few “challenges” around the corner when it actually comes from one union. He says he knows players who would rather earn less than agree with the principle of gender equality.
“In the past I have had conversations about the increase in the prize money. Then the amount for the losing player in the first round went from $ 8,000 to $ 10,000 for the men and from $ 6,000 to $ 10,000 for the women,” Murray sketches an example. .
“I then spoke to some of the male players who were unhappy that the prize money was the same. They then told me that they prefer not to have any higher prize money at all. That is the mentality you face in these discussions.”
The ATP was founded in 1972 to protect the interests of male tennis players, the WTA was created a year later as a female counterpart. Although the prize money at large tournaments is almost the same – as one of the few sports – there are regular complaints about unequal treatment.
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