Head of German Women’s Tennis Backs ATP-WTA Merger Plan Proposed by Roger Federer
Follow Us
After the pandemic struck the world early this year, Roger Federer tweeted about merging the governing bodies of men’s and women’s tennis. The Swiss Maestro’s suggestion came under the backdrop of fighting the global crisis by uniting together. In fact, Federer’s tweetstorm received widespread support from arch-rival Rafael Nadal, Simona Halep, and the iconic Billie Jean King.
Federer elaborated on his idea by saying that he didn’t mean merging the competition on the court, but merging the two governing bodies that oversee professional tours. He backed his argument by contending that different rankings systems, different logos, and different tournament categories made it confusing for the fans.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Rittner supports Roger Federer
Head of German women’s tennis, Barbara Rittner, became the latest member to support Federer. Recently, during an interview with Tennis Magazin, Rittner admitted to needing solidarity among the tennis’ governing bodies – the ITF, the ATP & the WTA Tours.
“From my point of view, it would make sense if the ATP, WTA, ITF, and the Grand Slams sit under one roof. At the moment everyone is cooking their own thing,” said Rittner.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Trending
‘RIP’ – Heartbroken Brother of John McEnroe Mourns ESPN Legend’s Tragic Death Who Last Tweeted About Coco Gauff
April 21, 2024 02:43 PM EDT
Serena Williams’ Husband Alexis Ohanian Gushes Over Her Pink Attire as Part of Nike’s Latest Endeavor
April 23, 2024 05:55 PM EDT
Darwin Blanch: How Father’s Relentless Efforts for His Brother Ended up Becoming a Boon for Rafael Nadal’s Opponent
April 24, 2024 06:52 PM EDT
Madrid Open 2024: Ugo Humbert vs Botic Van De Zandschulp; Preview, Head-to-Head, Prediction
April 26, 2024 07:18 AM EDT
Do Darwin Blanch’s Siblings Play Tennis? Everything to Know About the Young American’s Power-Packed Family
April 25, 2024 01:54 PM EDT
Get instantly notified of the hottest Tennis stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.
Follow Us
Being a former tennis player herself, Rittner stressed the importance of the need for women’s tennis stars to play a pivotal role in raising their voice for the ATP-WTA merger akin to their male counterparts. She gave precedence to the way the Big-3 communicated to help their lower-ranking colleagues during the crisis.
“With the women, we have few personalities in this area. Especially seasoned players like Simona Halep and Ashleigh Barty from Australia have to communicate louder. Angelique Kerber would also be heard for sure.” said Rittner.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
(Quotes have been translated using Google)
Having won the 1991 Wimbledon Championships as a junior, Rittner achieved a career-high ranking of No.24 in the year 1993. As a professional, Rittner’s best performance was reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open and Roland Garros.