Time for a Tennis Players' Union?
The incident involving Serena Williams at the 2009 U.S. Open and the now-overturned doping suspensions of Belgian tennis players, Yanina Wickmayer and Xavier Malisse, which have recently been lifted by the ITF, raise the question again regarding the very complicated inter-connected relationships between the ATP, WTA, ITF and
the tennis players competing in their tournaments. The Tours represent the Tour, its tournaments and sponsors, as well as the players. Isn't that a conflict when a player is facing a suspension or appealing a fine? . In 1972, the Association of Tennis Professionals was first formed as the men’s players’ union and in 1990 it was reorganized to also manage the Tour and its tournaments worldwide.
All of the major American team sports, i.e. NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL have separate player unions. When there are issues regarding suspensions, fines, etc. the players can turn to the players union for counsel and support. Clearly, the players associations and the leagues should be united in promoting and maintaining their respective sports. Players, unions and leagues want sports to be drug-free and devoid of any kind of scandal which would tarnish the sport and its players. However, there are inevitably situations where the needs and interests of the players, teams, Tours, sponsors and events/tournaments are not aligned. Therefore, perhaps it’s the season for the tennis players to revisit who, and how, their interests are being protected and supported in the often tangled web of allegiances and relationships within professional tennis.
All of the major American team sports, i.e. NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL have separate player unions. When there are issues regarding suspensions, fines, etc. the players can turn to the players union for counsel and support. Clearly, the players associations and the leagues should be united in promoting and maintaining their respective sports. Players, unions and leagues want sports to be drug-free and devoid of any kind of scandal which would tarnish the sport and its players. However, there are inevitably situations where the needs and interests of the players, teams, Tours, sponsors and events/tournaments are not aligned. Therefore, perhaps it’s the season for the tennis players to revisit who, and how, their interests are being protected and supported in the often tangled web of allegiances and relationships within professional tennis.
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