As first reported inThe Athletic, the four majors are attempting to forge a partnership to revamp the tour,which would take pressure off players due to playing demands,make the sport easier to follow for fans,and most importantly,head off a breakaway toursuch as professional golf has experienced with the setting up of LIV Golf.
According toThe Athletic, the idea is yet to be formally tabled with the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) or the men’s Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP),but the intention is to have a proposal ready when the Australian Open kicks off in January.
“We all know that premium drives the business,” WTA chief executive Steve Simon toldThe Athletic.
Tennis Australia were contacted about the proposal on Wednesday but declined to comment.
A premium tour could also protect the current schedule of lead-in events to the Australian Open by limiting changes to the calendar.
The ATP and WTA have discussed a top-tier tournamentbeing held in Saudi Arabia in January 2025 in the lead-up to the Melbourne Park event. If this was to become part of the schedule it would severely damage Australia’s current Open lead-in as the money on offer and the travel would be far more attractive to the world’s top players.