Power and Money: The Eternal Tour Struggle

Could Arthur Ashe have imagined the issues the tour faces today?

When the ATP Tour was founded in 1972, Jack Kramer, Cliff Drysdale, Arthur Ashe and Raymond Moore likely couldn’t have imagined that some 41 years later, the players, tournament directors and Grand Slams would be facing many of the same issues, namely, who is in control of the tour and who should be making how much money.

But that’s still the case. The players are still battling with the Grand Slams over increased prize money. But they also are battling with tournament representatives on the ATP Board over the same issue at other tournaments, with Indian Well front and center.

Once again it has become clear that the governing structure of the ATP tour does not work. The board of directors includes three tournament directors, three player representatives, and one largely handcuffed CEO, who inexplicably has abstained in a recent critical vote.

In December the board deadlocked at 3-3 (with CEO Brad Drewett abstaining—see below) over a proposal by Indian Wells to increase its prize money by at least $1.6 million ($800,000 would also go to WTA players), and to distribute most of it to the winners of the…