The International Tennis Federation said yesterday "that it
is considering a proposal to establish a men's professional tour
to rival the ATP Tour, fueled by the financial backing" of News
Corp.'s Rupert Murdoch, according to Julie Cart in this morning's
L.A. TIMES. Cart calls the maneuvering, "which if successful,
would put the existing men's tennis tour out of business," an
"unusual move that may prove divisive to the sport." In a
statement, the ITF charged the ATP Tour "with mismanagement," and
said that in their view "the men's professional tour has lost
focus in the eyes of the media, the public and perhaps some of
the players." More from the ITF: "While Grand Slam tournaments
and the Davis Cup continue to prosper, it appears to us that a
tour of 87 events is supporting too many players and too many
tournaments, many of which are not financially viable." Cart
reports that the ITF plan, first presented internally during the
French Open, calls for 10 tournaments, each with $3.5M in prize
money. Bill Babcock, Dir of Men's Professional Tennis for the
ITF, told the L.A. TIMES: "This isn't necessarily boys at war.
It can be done cooperatively. It's people in the business of
tennis looking for something that can help the game." The ITF is
the international governing body for tennis and administers the
Federation Cup and Davis Cup, along with Olympic Tennis and
seeding for Grand Slam tournaments (L.A. TIMES, 7/27).
WHAT ABOUT RUPERT? The SYDNEY MORNING HERALD reports that
Sport Australia, a Murdoch company, "has been leading
negotiations" with the ITF. The L.A. TIMES' Cart reports,
"Murdoch's Sky Broadcasting is reportedly providing the
financing, which would come in the form of television rights
fees. Murdoch is also expected to get marketing and promotional
rights to the tour" (L.A. TIMES, 7/27)
ATP RESPONSE: In a statement, the ATP called the ITF
proposal "an ill conceived power play." ATP Tour CEO Mark Miles
said he finds it "highly unlikely" the ITF plan "will have any
credible support from the national federations -- much less
anyone else. [ITF President Brian Tobin's] proposal would
seriously undermine the growth of grassroots tennis in all
countries and precipitate the decline of men's professional
tennis worldwide." Miles on Murdoch: "If true, this proposal
serves only Rupert Murdoch as it is not in the best interest of
any sport to be monopolized by one commercial entity" (ATP Tour).
CORPORATE SUPPORT? Norman Zeitchick, Editor and Chief of
TENNISMATCH magazine, told THE SPORTS BUSINESS DAILY that he
doesn't think the ITF plan is as strong as the present ATP Tour
structure, and raised questions as to if there is enough
corporate support. Zeitchick: "Tennis is not doing as well as
it wants to as far as sponsorship. I am not sure there is the
corporate support for such a tour as there are questions about
the support that is there now" (THE DAILY).
