ATP must persist with Gaudenzi for bright future, says former board member

BENGALURU : The ATP must resist the urge to make changes to its leadership and back chairman Andrea Gaudenzi for another term that would allow the Italian to realise his vision for the men's game, a former board member has told Reuters.

Italian Gaudenzi presented an ambitious plan to revolutionise the sport after taking over as ATP chairman in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced sporting bodies into crisis mode and many are still dealing with the financial implications.

Alex Inglot, who until recently served on the ATP Board and worked with Gaudenzi and his predecessor Chris Kermode, said the Italian - who is up for re-election this year - had made "significant developments" in the face of adversity.

"Do I believe stability is critical? Not de facto," Inglot, who was an ATP European player representative, told Reuters by phone from Malta.

"But on the basis of what Gaudenzi envisions and what he has already achieved on the road to that vision, I 100 per cent believe he's the right person for the job going forward."

Briton Inglot pointed to the ATP's announcement in November of a record increase of $37.5 million in prize money to $217.9 million for 2023, shortly after it said prize money on the Challenger Tour feeder circuit would jump 60 per cent.

Under Gaudenzi's OneVision plan aimed at improving revenue from media and television rights, players and tournaments are guaranteed a 50-50 share in profits from this year, he noted.

"Gaudenzi also made governance changes that were really important to the way the board works, the balance of the board and ironing out conflict of interest issues," Inglot said.

"ATP CEO Massimo Calvelli also drove an organisational restructure in terms of the ethos in-house and opening up job