WTA not at risk of bankruptcy, merger with ATP is "not under consideration": Chairman Steve Simon

Chairman Steve Simon has responded to recent reports of dire financial conditions at the WTA (Women's Tennis Association) and assured fans that the organization's future looks bright.

Kazakhstan Tennis Federation Vice President Yuri Polsky recently spoke about the financial status of the Women's Tennis Association in an interview with the Russian tabloid Championat. Polsky, who also serves as an advisor for the international affairs of the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation, stated that men's tennis generates more revenue than women's.

"The Billie Jean King Cup and the WTA, having equal prize money, do not generate the same income," he said. "That is, unfortunately, this is a reality - people go to men’s tennis more."

Steve Simon has now, however, expressed confidence in the WTA's financial health, and about growing women's tennis in the coming years. He also brushed aside suggestions of an impending merger between the WTA and the ATP.

“The WTA is in a healthy financial position, a merger with the ATP is not under consideration, and we are excited about our strong future during which we will continue to grow and expand women’s tennis," Simon said.

Simon also talked about the move by the WTA to increase the compensation for players by $400 million over the next decade, which will help secure the Women's Tennis Association's position as one of the leading women's sporting organizations.

"Earlier this year, the WTA announced an increase of $400 million in compensation to players over the next 10 years maintaining the WTA’s position as the leading women’s sports organization globally," Simon said.

"The value of the WTA can be raised" - Yuri Polsky on how the ATP can help women's tennis

Merger talks again become a topic of conversation

The merger comment that Steve Simon made in his remarks was potentially in response to a suggestion by Yuri Polsky that the ATP selling combined rights for men's and women's tournaments could help increase the value of the WTA.

"As a solution, ATP proposes a rights pooling option: broadcasting rights will be sold in the “ATP+WTA” complex," he said. "Broadcasters will buy the block: they cannot buy ATP separately, so they will also buy WTA. In this way, the value of the women's tennis association can be raised - artificially pumping it up a little. But in general, attention is being drawn - at least women's tennis will be broadcast."

The idea of a merger between ATP and WTA was first proposed by Swiss maestro Roger Federer in April 2020. He advocated for just the merger of organizing bodies and not combining tournaments.