Roger Federer calls for tennis to have one governing body

Roger Federer is calling for the men’s and women’s tennis tours to become one governing body.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion said Wednesday that the shutdown of the sport due to the coronavirus pandemic should be viewed as an opportunity to shape the future.

“Am I the only one thinking that now is the time for men’s and women’s tennis to be united and come together as one?” Federer said in one of multiple tweets.

Federer made it clear he wasn’t talking about “merging competition on the court.” He said merging the governing bodies should have “happened a long time ago” and he sees the opportunity for it to happen.

“But maybe now is really the time,” Federer said. “These are tough times in every sport and we can come out of this with 2 weakened bodies or 1 stronger body.”

Legendary women’s icon Billie Jean King, who founded the WTA in 1973, is among the people who would like to see it happen.

“I agree, and have been saying so since the early 1970s,” King replied to Federer. “One voice, women and men together, has long been my vision for tennis. The WTA on its own was always Plan B. I’m glad we are on the same page. Let’s make it happen.”

Current men’s star Rafael Nadal also likes the idea.

“As you know per our discussions,” 19-time Grand Slam winner Nadal wrote to Federer. “I completely agree that it would be great to get out of this world crisis with the union of men’s and women’s tennis in one only organisation.”

The ATP — the men’s tour — was formed in 1972.

–Field Level Media