© Getty Photographs Sport – Buda Mendes
Stan Wawrinka made his emotions completely clear on the Premium Tour concept with a easy one-word message because the three-time Grand Slam champion reacted with a “LOL (snicker out loud)” to a Premium Tour-related article.
During the last couple of months, there was a lot discuss in regards to the 4 Grand Slams becoming a member of forces with the Saudis and creating an elite tour that will function 16 high tournaments per 12 months. As presently proposed, the Premium Tour would consist of 4 Grand Slams – 10 Masters occasions – the season-ending match for women and men, in addition to one workforce competitors.
However in that state of affairs, the ATP and WTA tournaments from the five hundred and 250 classes would just about be wiped away.
On Wednesday, Sports activities Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim revealed an interview carried out with USTA CEO Lew Sherr, the place they mentioned the motives behind the Premium Tour and their targets.
Within the interview, Sherr just about highlighted that tennis “dilutes its personal product” and that having many tournaments has been detrimental to its product. As an alternative, having a tour that will see a restricted variety of tournaments with all high gamers competing in them on the identical time would drastically enhance the standard and immediately makes tennis simpler to promote as a product.
However Wawrinka is not impressed.
lol
— Stanislas Wawrinka (@stanwawrinka) March 21, 2024
Wawrinka not a fan of the Premium Tour concept
In an interview with Sports activities Illustrated, Sherr acknowledged that “simply too many tournaments usually are not viable.”
“So you are the fourth hottest sport on this planet, however 70% of these followers are solely watching the 4 occasions in the course of the 12 months. And the suggestions additionally indicated that occasions in the course of the season lack consequence,” USTA CEO Sherr stated.
“Followers have a tough time following the narrative. We dilute our personal product. We compete with our personal product. You may need six occasions in a given week. Followers wrestle to know the place they need to be watching. Why is Sinner enjoying in Rotterdam and Alcaraz is someplace in South America?
“The answer that got here again from all of that fan analysis? One of the simplest ways to current the game to followers was in a format the place the very best gamers are enjoying in a prescribed type of elite season. On the identical time, you are accounting for participant well being, relaxation, peaks in efficiency.”
This month, it was additionally reported that there’s a chance of making the “PIF Tour” – one that will see the ATP and WTA merge and be immediately tied to Saudi Arabia. It stays to be seen whether or not it will likely be the Premium Tour or the PIF Tour that can see the daylight.