Asian Tennis Federation Proposes 5th Grand Slam Event For Tennis

Tradition states that there are four Grand Slam tennis tournaments in the sport. Is there room for another one to be held in a continent that has a large following in the sport?

The Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) certainly thinks so and believes a fifth major tourney would help tennis’ cause and at the same time assist the development of the sport in a region largely ignored for the longest time.

The ATF brought up the idea— of a major tennis tournament to be held in Asia— to the International Tennis Federation (ITF) during the organisation’s annual general meeting held at the Mina A’Salam Hotel in Dubai.

Anil Kumar Khanna, the president for the ATF, justified his suggestion by saying that the ITF needs to explore the potential financial fallout of such a big event.

“The ITF is not a financially successful body. Right now it is not making a surplus, at best it is making $500,000 [Dh1.83 million] a year and our development expenses have gone down significantly to what it was 10 years ago,” Khanna said via the gulfnews.com. “So basically what the ATF is telling the ITF is that it must make a profit of $50 million, like the Grand Slams are making a profit of $100 million, at least for the sake of it’s 210 member nations, so that it can have worldwide development.”

The ATF president went on to say that the potential profit from the “fifth Grand Slam” can help all 201 member nations of the ITF and at the same time focus the development of tennis players in Asia.

“That money will not belong to one nation it will belong to 201 nations. It will be money well spent in Asia, in Africa, in Central America, in South America. Today we find tennis getting centred around only Europe making it is easier for Europe-based players to succeed.” Khanna addded.

The ITF is an influential organisation in the tennis world as it “works closely with each tournament through its presence on the Grand Slam Committee, providing administrative, officiating, and media support” according to the organisation’s official website.

The ATF has the backing of nations from Central Asia, East Asia, South Asia, South East Asia and West Asia with a total of 44 member nations.

The current Grand Slam tournaments in the tennis season are the Australian Open, Roland Garros (French Open), Wimbledon Championships and the US Open.

Will a fifth tennis Grand Slam be good for the sport? Will the idea gain traction considering there are politics even in sports? If approved, will it ever be as prestigious as the current tennis majors?