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This report is sourced to Championat.com, which is a tennis news arm of SUP, a Russian online media company. And translated from Russian
So, gauge its credibility as you will.
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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 increasing the value of the bigger tournaments, making WTA 250s essentially irrelevant.
A merger is seriously being considered.
"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. The ATP is in good financial shape, the tour has reserves, the players have retirement funds. The ATP is exploring its options, the question is, on what conditions could the merger be achieved? It is unclear what ATP's share in the merger would be & to what extent the ATP is willing to subsidize the WTA."
Polsky also says WTA would be the one paying for equal prize money in all of the tournaments.
"You have to understand that equal prize money doesn't mean that Billie Jean King Cup and WTA Tour generate the same revenues as the men’s counterparts. It's the reality… men's tennis attracts a bigger audience. The ATP proposes to pool media rights together to sell them in one package for ATP & WTA events. Broadcasters would have to buy WTA tournament rights if they want to buy ATP ones. This way you kind of artificially inflate the WTA value."
So, gauge its credibility as you will.
~~~~
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 increasing the value of the bigger tournaments, making WTA 250s essentially irrelevant.
A merger is seriously being considered.
"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. The ATP is in good financial shape, the tour has reserves, the players have retirement funds. The ATP is exploring its options, the question is, on what conditions could the merger be achieved? It is unclear what ATP's share in the merger would be & to what extent the ATP is willing to subsidize the WTA."
Polsky also says WTA would be the one paying for equal prize money in all of the tournaments.
"You have to understand that equal prize money doesn't mean that Billie Jean King Cup and WTA Tour generate the same revenues as the men’s counterparts. It's the reality… men's tennis attracts a bigger audience. The ATP proposes to pool media rights together to sell them in one package for ATP & WTA events. Broadcasters would have to buy WTA tournament rights if they want to buy ATP ones. This way you kind of artificially inflate the WTA value."