Discontinuation of Joint Scoring App Raises Doubts Over Roger Federer’s Idea of ATP-WTA Merger
Follow Us
Amid talks of a merger between the governing bodies of men’s and women’s tennis, a new development has come to light, which calls the very idea into question.
A joint application of the ATP and WTA, through which the game’s followers and journalists could track live scores from events, has been disabled across platforms where it was available, citing changes to data feed.
The ATP/WTA Live Scores App has been pulled out of all mobile and desktop platforms where it used to be available for download.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The WTA and ATP have announced the discontinuation of the ATP/WTA Live Scores App across all mobile and desktop platforms.
As a result of changes made to the data feed, the app is no longer able to support the technical requirements of both the ATP & WTA.— wta (@WTA) December 23, 2020
The move, even for technical reasons, seems to have pricked the bubble around the idea that the two bodies can break ranks and work towards a singular goal of driving the game of tennis forward.
The proposal of a merger was mooted by none other than 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer.
ATP-WTA merger proposal was put forward by Roger Federer
Federer had said at a time that since the ATP and the WTA are struggling to keep revenues flowing in the light of the pandemic and bulk event cancellations, the merger could work in terms of helping the men’s and women’s bodies sail past the choppy waters that they now find themselves in.
Federer said that should the two bodies function as a single entity, they would find it easier to recover from the financial toll that the pandemic has taken on them.
Trending
‘I Was Already Salty’- Serena Williams Pokes Husband Alexis Ohanian Over His $180 Million Master-Stroke for Their Daughter Olympia
May 03, 2024 08:01 PM EDT
Madrid Open: Aryna Sabalenka Joins Iga Swiatek in Giving a Cold Shoulder to Coco Gauff as WTA Big 3 Debate Rages On
May 03, 2024 05:11 PM EDT
Andy Roddick Lays Bare Coco Gauff’s Issues That’s Ending Her Case as WTA Spearhead Alongside Swiatek and Sabalenka
May 03, 2024 04:57 PM EDT
Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek’s Nail-Biting Madrid Final Forces Chris Evert to Break Her Long-Drawn Silence With a Stirring Message
May 04, 2024 10:39 PM EDT
How Is Aryna Sabalenka’s New Rumored Boyfriend Involved in Miami GP? Everything to Know About the $23.8 Million Connection
May 03, 2024 11:08 AM EDT
Get instantly notified of the hottest Tennis stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.
Follow Us
The idea found favor with WTA Chairman Steve Simon, who said Federer had the best interests of the game at heart when he put forward the merger proposal.
WTA boss had favored Federer merger plan
In an interview to tennismajors.com, the WTA boss said, “Well, knowing Roger, it’s not a surprise to me because I think he always looks at the bigger picture of things.” However, if the discontinuation of the joint scoring app is any indication, it is hard to see how the two bodies can work together.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Tennis fans would now have to visit the ATP mobile app and the dedicated scoring page on wtatennis.com to trawl through live scores.
It will not only make for a cumbersome experience but also a time-consuming one, especially for tennis writers covering live events, especially the Australian Open, the Wimbledon and the other Grand Slams.
WTA Responds to Roger Federer’s ATP-WTA Merger Suggestions
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Simply put, if the idea of the merger between the ATP and the WTA has to work, their functionalities, which includes putting up live scores, also has to come together. It will not only help secure the future of tennis but will also make for a better experience for followers keen to keep track of scores.