Gaudenzi: I try to see the positive side which has been a tremendous collaboration

After Roger Federer posted his suggestion about the merger of the ATP & WTA Tours earlier this week, ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi says that the ATP Tour, WTA Tour, the ITF and the Grand Slam bodies have been working together in recent weeks during the current tennis shutdown caused by the global pandemic.

Gaudenzi, who took over as ATP Chairman earlier this year, says, "Managing the current scenario is extremely complex, especially because of the nature of our calendar, the nature of our business. But I'm optimistic in general, by nature, and I try to see the positive side which has been a tremendous collaboration with the other grand slams and the WTA and the ITF.

"So all the bodies coming together and discussing the calendar, the way forward, player relief, and many, many other topics. So that could be the positive outcome of this, that finally the governing bodies of tennis and the grand slams get together and work collaboratively on the long-term future of the sport."

Federer tweeted earlier this week, saying, "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? "I am not talking about merging competition on the court, but merging the 2 governing bodies (ATP and WTA) that oversee the men's and women's professional tours. It probably should have happened a long time ago, but maybe now is really the time. It's too confusing for the fans when there are different ranking systems, different logos, different websites, different tournament categories."

Federer's suggestion has also received plenty of support from players such as Rafael Nadal, Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova and Billie Jean King.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2SddvOO