SL: It’s true, tennis has a long history—right back to the inception of both tours—of putting players in the drivers’ seat. Or, more accurately, of players taking the wheel and assuming control of their own future in the sport.
You could argue that the modern WTA and ATP Tours are the epitome of a player-led venture: the ATP’s famed Parking Lot Press Conference of 1988 was essentially a player revolt that paved the way for the new men’s tour, while the WTA Original 9’s iconic signing of $1 contracts in 1973 set in motion the first professional women’s tour.
DK: Talk about a couple of unforgettable tennis court oaths! It’s easy to raise an eyebrow at business ventures launched by those who may lack, dare I say it? “A formal education.” But to be successful on the tennis court requires a level of belief, vision and teamwork that has historically translated outside the lines.
Of course, not every venture has been an unmitigated success: the Professional Tennis Players Association came together amidst a rush of sound and fury, but has ultimately signified little in the time since its 2020 inception. Though the PTPA was born out of a desire to better represent players in an ever-changing world, opportunities to take Naomi Osaka-level stances on things like vaccine mandates and Russo-Ukraine relations have only yielded wishy-washy statements that leave the organization firmly outside the very conversations they wish to lead.
Wrapping up, is there a field—within tennis or without—you can see benefitting from a tennis player’s touch? We might need a small army of them forecasting fashion trends over at Adidas!
SL: It’s been a while since the ATP and WTA tours were led by a player, but I’d hesitate to say that should change. The ideal leader for the tours should have a strong business or law background and be diplomatic enough to balance a whole range of interests, not just focusing on players’ needs.
However, I really like seeing players taking positions of leadership within the tournaments, like tournament director or similar role. That seems like an easy win for all sides: the players seem to like having a former player steering the ship and paying attention to details that only other players would notice; the tournaments also get to have a very media-friendly figure leading their promo and marketing efforts; plus a tournament where the players are in a good mood is always a win for fans.
Another place that former players really shine is in the commentary booth. There’s a different element that they bring in terms of match analysis or post-match interviews that you might not necessarily get from a journalist, even if they’re quite experienced in tennis. Players like Pam Shriver, Mary Joe Fernandez, Tracy Austin, Andy Roddick and Alizé Lim have all gone in this direction, and I think tennis broadcasts greatly benefit from that.
DK: I think the final frontier for tennis players as media moguls was laid out by a young Venus and Serena Williams, who published the Tennis Monthly Recap newsletter at the very start of their careers. The trend continues today in micro form with Behind The Racquet, an initiative started by Noah Rubin.
Players have often expressed an interest in reclaiming their narratives from journalists and social media pundits; perhaps we could see the landscape change further with an outlet led by a former player, one who understands their subjects on a cellular level. Might we see the development of a more robust Players’ Tribune? I know I’d be in the wings ready to proofread!