The Vice President of the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation recently shared that the WTA is going through a tough time. Yuri Polsky, who advises the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation on international matters, talked about various topics with the Russian newspaper Championat. One of those topics was the WTA’s financial situation, which he finds worrying.
He made a startling revelation by saying that the organization based in Florida is approaching a financial crisis. He mentioned, “If their finances don’t improve, they might go bankrupt by 2026 or 2027.” According to one report from the Russian newspaper, the WTA has added more high-level tournaments to their 2023 season. This is to encourage top players to participate and, in turn, increase their revenue.
During this conversation, Polsky also mentioned that the WTA is thinking about merging with the ATP. Roger Federer, a 20-time Major winner, originally proposed this idea back in 2020. This potential partnership between the two organizations would address the issue of equal payment for male and female tennis players, creating a unified demand for both.
WTA could go bankrupt by 2026
Kazakhstan Tennis Federation VP, Yuri Polsky:
“They are in a very bad place & could even go bankrupt in 2026 or 2027 if their financial situation doesn’t change.”
He also says WTA’s financial struggles are the reason why they’re focused on… pic.twitter.com/EeUI6WyRaW
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 22, 2023
Polsky believes that the ATP doesn’t want the creditworthiness of the WTA to suffer, which is why they are open to the idea of a merger. He stated, “For the WTA it is a matter of survival, for the ATP – a matter of reputation. ATP leaders don’t want the WTA to collapse because the optics would be bad.”
Many other questions arise regarding this potential merger, such as how the revenue would be shared if the merger were to happen in the future. The ATP is currently exploring its options, and it remains unclear what share the ATP would have in the merged business and to what extent it would financially support the WTA.
ATP and WTA explore landmark merger for unified tennis tour
The ATP and WTA are in discussions about a landmark merger. According to The Telegraph, executives and tournament representatives have met in London for a two-day summit to explore the possibility of a unified tour of men’s and women’s professional tour. ATP Tour chairman Andrea Gaudenzi and WTA chief executive Steve Simon called for this summit, aiming to pave the way for a closer collaboration between the ATP and WTA.
This merger has been a topic of discussion for years, with tennis legends like Roger Federer and Billie Jean King endorsing the idea. A combined tour could provide greater commercial value for the sport, uniting tennis in a more cohesive manner. Though significant obstacles exist, such as differing sponsorship agreements and tournament logistics, the merger aims to create a more stable and resourceful environment for both tours.
Just wondering…..am I the only one thinking that now is the time for men’s and women’s tennis to be united and come together as one?
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 22, 2020
Additionally, the WTA’s motivation for merging with the ATP is to advance its pathway to equal prize money at all WTA 1000 events by 2027, addressing the gender pay gap in professional tennis. A unified ATP-WTA circuit would not only combat the potential takeover by Saudi Arabia but also strengthen the future of the sport, offering players and fans a more cohesive and inclusive tennis experience.
While it’s unclear whether there will be opposition to the merger, male players may have possible apprehensions about financial reallocation, considering their current earnings exceed those of their female counterparts by approximately seventy-five percent.
