Becker lends support to Federer’s ATP-WTA merger idea
LONDON: Six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker has supported Roger Federer’s proposal regarding the merger of men’s and women’s tennis governing bodies.
Becker pointed towards equal pay for both men and women in Grand Slams and stated tennis in general have been a ‘progressive’ sport.
Federer had earlier suggested to bring together ATP and WTA into one single entity for the betterment of the sport as a whole.
Becker also lauded the 20-time Grand Slam champion for coming up with the idea at time when the entire world is reeling from the effect of coronavirus.
“Roger Federer started the ball rolling with his splendid idea of joining forces and I think (Rafael) Nadal agrees. Not every top guy agrees, that’s fine, but I think Federer, Nadal and (Novak) Djokovic have a strong following. For Federer to suggest that, speaks for his intelligence and also that he truly cares about the game,” Becker was quoted as saying by Laureus.com.
“Just think of the equal prize money we have in the majors. You know men and women earn the same which I don’t think is happening in every sport.
“We are always progressive about going with the times, with equal rights, certainly on the tennis court. So a joint organisation - he meant ATP and WTA - would be the next step. It’s a big step,” he added.
The entire tennis season has been ruined because of the pandemic. For the first time outside wartime, Wimbledons have been cancelled while this year’s Roland Garros tournament has been postponed till September.
Becker stated US Open must follow suit as New York is one of the most hit cities in the entire world.
“It’s the only Grand Slam still standing, but New York was pretty much the worst city hit by the virus a couple of weeks ago. I don’t think it would be wise to have a tournament there,” he said.
Meanwhile, there will be no handshakes, line
judges, ball boys or spectators allowed, but tennis fans can get their fix from Friday when a series of exhibition matches will be streamed live from a rural German venue.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the ATP and WTA Tours are suspended until July 13 at the earliest.
However, tennis fans can enjoy live coverage of an eight-man tournament at the Base Tennis Academy in the tiny town of Hoehr-grenzhausen, near Koblenz.
Germany’s Dustin Brown, who famously beat Rafael Nadal in the second round of Wimbledon in 2015, is the best known name in the field, none of whom are ranked in world’s top 100.
Compatriot Yannick Hanfmann, 28, will be the highest ranked player at 143.
“I’m really excited about it,” Hanfmann told AFP subsidiary SID.
The academy’s courts are already equipped with cameras and the matches will be streamed worldwide.
Due to coronavirus, only the two players and chair umpire will be allowed on the clay courts at any one time.
Digital broadcaster Tennis Channel, which has 62 million subscribers in the USA alone, will broadcast the three-legs of the tournament, on Friday and then May 7 and May 14.
“It’s pretty cool, I’m curious to see how many people will be watching,” admitted Hanfmann.
When the coronavirus pandemic first hit Germany in mid-march, Hanfmann spent time at home in Karlsruhe, seeing his family and girlfriend, “whom I usually don’t see so often and for so long at a stretch”.