Tennis is getting closer to a total revolution. The brutal demand and duration of each season in an increasingly physical sport, in addition to the arrival of new players in the game, pushes the sport of racquet to a new premium model. What is the ‘Premier Tour’ that could be the future?
Brutal information is once again signed by The Athletic, the medium that has in detail each and every one of the exclusives regarding the possible creation of a new “premium” circuit, both female and male, that will replace the current structures that structure the racket sport. An alliance between Grand Slams, Masters y ATP y WTA Finals that continues to shape itself, gaining strength, finding some support in a wide number of players and that could completely change the way we consume this sport. But, and according to an article that provides a lot of information, it is time to go in parts and explain, in the first place, how this idea was born.
SAUDI ARABIA, AFTER THE PREPARATION OF THIS ‘PREMIER TOUR’
Indirectly, the Middle Eastern country has been a very important actor in ensuring that this revolution is on the table today. Their influence has been twofold: firstly, because of the gloomy precedent they set with the creation of a parallel circuit, the LIV Tour, which challenged the structure of a world-class sport (golf) and “stole” many important players from the best events; on the other, due to its clear intention to be part of the tennis scene. His insistence, monetary capacity and promises to offer better economic conditions to the players caused the second actor of this particular ‘Game of Thrones’ to enter the scene.
He is none other than the president of the ATP, Andrea Gaudenzi. To mitigate the possible consequences of the total entry of the Saudis, the Italian was quick: He offered them a Masters 1000 at the beginning of the season, just before the Australian Open, which would be added to the NextGen Finals and the WTA Finals. This, logically, would diminish much importance to the tournaments on Australian soil prior to the first Grand Slam of the year. So who is harmed? Indeed, the head of Tennis Australia, a Craig Tiley who saw the position of a Australian summer tour that would lose value due to the forced inclusion of the Saudis. Result? Implement an idea that, according to what he himself revealed not too long ago, had been on his mind for a long time…
TILEY MOVES CHECK
The South African got in touch with the great minds behind each of the Grand Slams from the past Wimbledon, the moment when he learned of Gaudenzi’s intentions and his plan to completely change the month of January. Not only that: he sought the support of the PTPA, recently formed and already has a large number of players on the circuit. Little by little, Tiley added support to his proposal, convincing the Grand Slams to get on board and use their economic potential to include all the tournaments that make up the tournaments. Masters 1000under the umbrella of the ATP today.
There was an argument that was decisive and revealing. Tiley spoke about what happened at the last Wimbledon, in which the ATP responded to the English tournament’s decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from entering with an exceptional measure: suspend points awarded for the Englishman’s third Grand Slam. With no points at stake, the glory of achieving a new Grand Slam and the monetary prize were more than enough incentives for participation to not suffer at all. Finally, Wimbledon ended up being a success, breaking attendance and television ratings records. That was the signal that the Grand Slams needed: their product, by itself, is powerful enough to allow them to make far-reaching decisions without taking the ATP into account.
WHAT WOULD THIS PREMIER TOUR CONSIST OF?
But the article from The Athletic does not only talk about the stratagem that has been cooked up behind the spotlights, which also provides a little more information about the development of this Premier Tour. According to the sources mentioned in the article, this circuit would be made up of around 14 “premium” category tournaments: the 4 Grand Slams and 10 to 12 premium tournaments that are currently part of the ATP. There is no mention of Saudi Arabia; yes to the 9 Masters 1000 existing (and all the WTA 1000 for the women’s circuit) and other tournaments, currently in the 500 category, that would be added to the circuit due to their location in global capitals: Washington, Tokyo and Beijing. These would be the events that would give points for the world ranking and would be made up of around 100 players, making the cut in a hypothetical top-100.
And what about the rest of the events and players? They would be part of what they now call a ‘experimental circuit’, which would integrate players located beyond the top-100. These would try to add points and titles in the rest of the events to be able to access the “Premier Tour”, while the players who compete in the highest category yes they would have permission to play events on this experimental circuit, although they would not add points for the world ranking. The reasons for “downgrading” could be to increase the pace of matches or receive a generous check to attend any of these events.
POSSIBLE REGIONAL CIRCUITS AND ADVANTAGES
John Morris, one of the tennis executives who is part of the debates about this possible revolution, mentions the possibility that the smaller events of the calendar (we imagine that ATP 250 tournaments or the Challenger circuit) could become integrated into small regional circuits. Champions or better classifieds would emerge from them to seek access to the Premier Tour, in a measure that seeks reduce player travel costs, trying to maintain the current prize money but saving them the money they spend right now on trips. In addition, the Premier circuit would be open to renegotiate the percentage of profits that players take in each tournamenta measure that the PTPA has sought to promote for a long time and that could have a very positive impact on the lives of many players.
As some peripheral aspects, it is mentioned that this Premier Tour would be managed by a council made up of members of all the Grand Slams and Masters, in addition to seeking shorten the length of the season (fundamental premise; 11 months is too long), and, they believe, they would generate a greater amount of money in terms of television returns, since sell a product together It’s much easier than doing it the way tennis is currently structured (with two governing bodies, four Grand Slams and the ITF; by the way, this body is never mentioned).
Could tennis, one of the most global sports that exists, work with a Formula 1-style calendar? Are 14 tournaments enough to push the sport further than the Big Three has? Is the idea of filling the globe with regional circuits feasible, without players finding challenges beyond the surfaces/players in their area, before reaching that Premier Tour? How is the cut defined for the Grand Slams? What is the situation of the ITF and the junior circuit? And, more importantly: does this idea have the full support of the players? Only the passage of time will answer this question… but what seems clear is that tennis is approaching its revolution.
2023-12-28 22:09:54
#revolution #threatens #future #tennis
