Two Australian tennis veterans say players could potentially benefit from rumours of a new elite tour coming to fruition amid concerns over the risk of a LIV-style alternative series.
Key points:
- Media reports suggest plans for a new premium tennis circuit could be unveiled as early as next month’s Australian Open
- The new circuit would be supported by the four major tennis tournaments and at least 10 other major events around the world.
- The world of professional golf has been disrupted by the LIV breakaway circuit, and tennis authorities are said to be concerned about a similar venture in their sport.
Talk about ABC’s Tennis PodcastJohn Millman and John Alexander responded to a New York Times article in The Athletic that said there were concerns among public figures and governing bodies about the state of tennis and the possibility that a rogue organization could disrupt the sport in the same way that the Saudi-backed LIV did to golf.
The report cites sources within the tennis world as saying that a possible collaboration was in the works between the big four tennis tournaments – the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open – and a limited number of other top events in men’s and women’s tennis.
An elite circuit would be designed to simplify and transform the sport, and reduce the pressure on top players who face a constantly busy schedule.
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The stated aim is to have a plan ready to present to all parties in Australia next month for the Australian Open.
Alexander was a member of the 1977 Australian Davis Cup-winning team, which reached a world ranking of eighth in singles and won the Australian Open men’s doubles title twice. He later worked as a tennis commentator and administrator, including as captain of the Australian Fed Cup team.
Alexander told ABC that the proposed idea could certainly come to fruition.
“The main ingredient, I guess, is money,” he said.
Alexander highlighted several transformative moments in tennis history, such as the World Tennis Championship breakaway financed by Texas oil baron Lamar Hunt in the 1970s.
“You see what happened in LIV golf, and like what happened with the World Championship tennis, the peace pipe was then smoked with the ITF and the Masters (events) and the Grand Slams, and they all came together,” Alexander said.
He highlighted the potential of any measure that could expand the number of viable careers for tennis professionals.
“Investment in tennis should not be seen as a challenge, but as an opportunity to expand the game and give more job opportunities to more professionals, because the game is a bit too heavy,” he said.
“There are no positive spin-offs (at the moment): if you’re not in the top 100 in the men’s or women’s competition, you’re not doing very well and playing on the tour is very expensive.”
Millman, a veteran of the Australian professional circuit who was a member of the ATP Player Council for several years, is expected to retire at the end of the Australian Open.
He said he was not sure the announced plan was the best for players.
“I think the more competition the better, to be quite honest,” he said.
“There are several tours planned that will give more players the opportunity to play tennis.”
Millman said the idea of a new elite tour had been around for some time, dating back to when Andrea Gaudenzi took over as ATP president in 2017, with a focus on “a premium product”.
“The final step was to involve the Grand Slams, to bundle the Grand Slams and the Masters into this big premium product, and then sell it to a big streaming service like Amazon or Netflix.”
Millman said that in his experience on the Players’ Council, the four majors were “hesitant” to adopt the plan.
However, he suggested that the Grand Slam tournaments were now beginning to “recognise that perhaps a united front was the best solution”.
