ATP's Power Struggle Delays Search For New CEO

The “power struggle between the players and tournaments that bubbled to the surface in last month’s U.S. Open is undermining the ATP Tour’s search” to replace outgoing Exec Chair & President Adam Helfant, according to Douglas Robson of USA TODAY. All England Club CEO Ian Ritchie, who was considered the “leading candidate,” had discussions with the ATP board but is “no longer in the running after news of his candidacy was leaked to British newspapers last week.” Ritchie, credited with “modernizing Wimbledon and boosting its profits, was favored by the board’s three player representatives but was seen as sympathetic to their interests by the three board members representing the tournaments.” Tennis players Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have said that they “will meet at next week’s event in Shanghai to discuss their growing concerns.” Players are “unhappy about the length of the calendar, the placement of events such as the Davis Cup and the number of required tournaments.” They also “seek a larger portion of prize money from the four majors.” Two ATP sources said that board members “have placed an emphasis on finding a new CEO from within the sport or with substantial tennis knowledge.” The last two CEOs -- former Disney exec Etienne de Villiers, and Helfant, “once a Nike manager -- arrived with little direct experience” (USA TODAY, 10/5).