The relationships among Stakeholders in the organization of men's professional tennis event

The aim of this paper is to investigate the nature and intensity of relationships among Stakeholder's involved in organizing tennis events. Our interest stems from the significant transformations in the organization and management of each circuit in which the tennis championship is structured. These changes have had such an impact on the organization of tennis events that they present significant managerial differences compared to other sports events. Design/methodology/approach - This paper investigates the promoters of tennis circuits and reviews the literature on the subject. What clearly emerges is the need to extend our knowledge of the organizational and managerial dynamics of tennis competitions. The distinctive features of the main circuits are then presented, highlighting the gradual increase in the number of tournaments and the various changes that have taken place in recent years in terms of their management and organization. Lastly, an interpretive model is proposed in order to analyze the distinct characteristics of relationships that each promoter of professional tennis circuits (the ITF and the ATP) has with tennis players and tournament organizers. Findings - The study carried out in this article highlights the crucial role played by the ATP in ensuring the profitability of its circuits which benefit from properly planned strategic paths. What emerges from the analysis is the limited role of the ITF in the organization of professional circuits. The interpretative model of the current organizational structure of professional tennis here proposed is based on the analysis of the different relationships that the ATP and the ITF have with their primary Stakeholder's, such as athletes and tournament organizers, which are essential for the creation of all sports competitions. Originality/value - Within this context, there appears to be a lack of scientific studies aimed at providing a systematic interpretation for the business of tennis events where, for example, the determinants of evolution have not been sufficiently analyzed. Therefore, throughout the study of tennis circuits and related promoters, this work refers to Stakeholder Theory to discuss the relationships among the actors involved in the organization of tennis events.