Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam champion, had opined that the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown could be an ideal opportunity for the two governing bodies of professional tennis to come together under one roof. And although not all male players are on the same page, Federer’s proposal has found resonance with fellow multiple-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray.

Andy Murray recalls Billie Jean King’s campaign

During an online interaction with Christianne Amanpour on CNN International, Andy Murray said:

Andy Murray has been vocal in his support for equality in the sport. The 32-year-old Scot was one of the first top male players to employ a female coach when he joined hands with Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo a few years ago.

The unique nature of tennis, as Murray says, means that the top men’s and women’s players often play together at the big tournaments. That is always going to be an attractive proposition for the game’s sponsors and audiences alike.

During the interview with Amanpour that also featured 12-time ladies singles Grand Slam champion Billie Jean King, Andy Murray was quick to point out that King had championed the merger idea long before Federer.

King wanted women’s tennis to be in the same fold as the men’s about five decades ago. But when the men did not agree, she had no option but to establish the WTA as an independent entity in 1973.

The 76-year-old King was understandably ecstatic at Federer’s suggestion about the merger, saying:

Last month the ATP and the WTA jointly announced the suspension of their respective tours due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is unclear when live action will resume, so there is plenty of time if the officials have any restructuring in mind.

New ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi is also open to the idea of a unified body for tennis. The Italian, however, stopped short of calling for a formal merger; he said:

WTA chairman and CEO Steve Simon is also on the same page as his ATP counterpart when. He observed:

During the interaction, King opined that in any attempts for a merger between ATP and WTA, the WTA should not be viewed as an ‘acquisition’. Andy Murray was quick to provide a similar view point:

Andy Murray’s last professional match on tour was a three-set win over Swiss Stan Wawrinka, in the final of the ATP 500 Vienna Open in 2019. The Miami Open this year was supposed to be Murray’s first stop this season, but the tournament - along with many others - had to be cancelled owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professional tennis is not expected to resume before July, which means Andy Murray has at least two more months to get ready for action.

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