Plans to merge the commercial operations of the men’s Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) have been put on hold indefinitely, dealing a setback to one of the most ambitious restructuring efforts in professional tennis.
According to a report by The Guardian, negotiations between the two tours have stalled over disagreements regarding revenue-sharing arrangements and the financial implications of combining their commercial businesses.
The proposed merger focused on combining the ATP’s and WTA’s commercial and media rights businesses rather than merging the sporting competitions themselves. The objective was to create a unified commercial entity that could jointly market broadcasting rights, sponsorships and other commercial assets, similar to the integrated model used by several other global sports. Supporters believed a combined structure would strengthen tennis’ negotiating position with broadcasters, sponsors and commercial partners while presenting a more cohesive product to fans.
According to the report, the two organisations came close to reaching an agreement in 2025 under former WTA chairman Steve Simon. However, discussions lost momentum after Valerie Camillo succeeded Simon as WTA chair. Camillo reportedly concluded that the proposed revenue-sharing model did not adequately reflect the interests of the women’s tour, leading the WTA to step back from the negotiations.
Earlier this year, ATP Chief Executive Eno Polo had expressed optimism that the two tours were “quite close” to finalising a deal. However, the latest developments indicate that negotiations have now been shelved indefinitely, with no immediate timeline for resuming talks. Neither the ATP nor the WTA has publicly commented on the report.
The financial backdrop has been central to the discussions. The ATP reportedly generated revenue of approximately $294 million in 2024, more than double the WTA’s reported $142 million. While a merged commercial structure could have increased overall revenues for both organisations through pooled media and sponsorship rights, the proposed revenue split reportedly became a sticking point, with concerns that the WTA would receive a smaller proportional share despite benefiting from higher aggregate revenues.
The stalled merger also comes as both tours face broader financial pressures. The ATP has recently announced plans to streamline aspects of its doubles programme as part of wider cost-management initiatives, while the WTA has reportedly begun implementing measures such as reducing staff presence at major tournaments, including Wimbledon. These developments underscore the commercial challenges facing professional tennis despite continued global interest in the sport.
A unified commercial structure has long been viewed as a potential solution to one of tennis’ biggest structural challenges. Unlike many global sports that operate under a single governing commercial entity, men’s and women’s professional tennis are managed separately, often resulting in fragmented media rights, sponsorship negotiations and event promotion. Industry stakeholders have argued that combining commercial operations could unlock greater value by offering broadcasters and sponsors a single, year-round premium tennis product.
