Paris, May 30: Officials from tennis' four grand slams met at the French Open to discuss players' demands that those events commit more money to prizes, promotion and pension programmes. The two-hour session yesterday was preparation for upcoming talks with other key groups in the sport, according to a tennis source who spoke on condition of anonymity. Over the next week, grand slam executives plan to meet with representatives of male and female players, a group that oversees the nine masters series men's tournaments, and possibly agents, the source said. Subjects include the sport's schedule and money. In March, the ATP and WTA tour urged the chairmen of the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open to share more of their profits.
Prize money at ATP events has decreased about 10 per cent over the past three years to just over $55 million in 2003, with the largest drop in payments for doubles. The men's prize money at the grand slam events rose 13 per cent to a combined total of about $22.4 million last year.
Unlike most other major sports, tennis does not have a commissioner, and decisions come from various sources, including the pro tours and the international tennis federation, which oversees the four major tournaments. Bureau Report