The ATP and WTA had successful seasons. Each offered record prize money and reported record attendance. Each staged year-end championships that drew sell-out crowds. But each tour also finished 2011 on an ambiguous note.
No one is saying that Sony Ericsson put a serious stamp on women’s tennis during its six years as title sponsor. There was an ad that showed the women racing through Rome, and . . . well, it’s hard to think of much else. But the communications company did bring money, $88 million of it, a record deal for any women’s sport. But at the end of 2012, after downgrading its commitment two years ago, SE will pull out for good and leave the WTA without a title sponsor.
The men haven’t gone the title sponsor route, but they do need leadership, and that was a hard thing to find this past year. In June, CEO Adam Helfant, who had negotiated a $70 million sponsorship deal with Corona last season, announced that he would step down at the end of 2011. For the next six months, the tour tried to find a suitable replacement, someone who would listen to increasingly loud player complaints about their obligations, yet also keep the business growing. First up was former Wimbledon head Ian Ritchie, but the tour dithered and Ritchie went to rugby instead. Next was former player Richard Krajicek, but again no agreement could be reached and he took himself out of the running. Finally, seemingly with nowhere left to turn, the ATP went to ex-player, long-time company man, and head of the tour’s Asian branch, Brad Drewett. It was a safe choice, and it may end up being a smart choice, but the process that got the ATP there makes us think that strong, unified leadership is still what the men need most.
—Steve Tignor
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