The merger is part of a proposal to streamline the run-in to the Australian Open, the year’s first Grand Slam. Under the merger plans the two events will be combined into one event held in Brisbane at a yet to be constructed new tennis centre. The merger has still to be approved by the ATP and WTA, men’s and women’s tennis’s respective governing bodies.
The move reflects a strategy from tennis chiefs to combine more men’s and women’s tournaments in the future, so that the public get to see top men and women playing in one venue.
