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AFP
![Andy Murray supports Roger Federer's proposal for a unified tennis world.]()
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Andy Murray supports Roger Federer’s proposal for a unified tennis world.
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imago images / AFLOSPORT
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“Am I the only one who thinks it is time to unite men’s and women’s tennis?” Federer asked on Twitter.
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Gaze sport
![Murray is the first top player with Amélie Mauresmo to rely on a woman as a coach.]()
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Murray is the first top player with Amélie Mauresmo to rely on a woman as a coach.
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imago images / Kyodo News
![... Bianca Andreescu, who won the women's tournament in Canada.]()
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… Bianca Andreescu, who won the women’s tournament in Canada.
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Roger Federer’s proposal to combine the ATP and WTA tours is one of the hottest topics on the tennis scene during the Corona break.
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Federer’s concerns receive prominent support from his long-time companion Andy Murray. “It is a great sign that more and more men consider a merger to be a step in the right direction,” says the Scot at CNN. “Tennis is already unique in this regard because the big events for men and women take place in the same place, at the same time and with the same prize money,” said Murray. This is very attractive for fans and sponsors. “The two genders attract practically the same number of spectators, which is also rare in the sports world,” continues the triple Grand Slam winner.
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Murray, who once hired Amélie Mauresmo as the first male top player to coach a woman, is also aware of the hurdles that still stand in the way of a merger. The highest is likely to be the money. While women and men actually collect the same amount at the four Grand Slams and the most important tour events such as Indian Wells or Miami, there is still a gap in wages at other events. For example: Rafael Nadal won $ 1.05 million last year at the Rogers Cup in Canada. Women’s champion Bianca Andreescu had to make do with $ 521,000.
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Better little money than equality
There are always efforts to not only increase the prize money but also to align it. However, some men encounter resistance, as Murray explains: “I have often spoken to colleagues who are unhappy with the same prize money.” Murray would answer yes to many men answering the question of whether they would prefer no increase instead of equality. «We have to deal with such opinions. There really are men who prefer earning less than accepting equality, »says world number 129.
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Despite all the financial differences, in addition to Federer, Murray and Nadal, the two bosses of the ATP and the WTA have already committed to an even closer collaboration, but without directly demanding a merger. The topic will keep the tennis scene busy for a while. Finally, the ATP and WTA tours will not start operating again until July 13th at the earliest. (cmü)
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