Scott set to press Grand Slams for equal prize-money on women's tour

Larry Scott started his new job as the WTA Tour's chief executive yesterday, having transferred his experience from men's tennis to the women's game. While fighting the WTA's corner in the quest for equal prize-money, Scott also hopes to play a part in unifying the sport.

"I'm very encouraged by the recent dialogue that started between the Grand Slams, the International Tennis Federation, the WTA and the ATP," Scott said. "I think my history and track record can only be beneficial in terms of all the governing bodies working more closely together."

Meetings in the weeks ahead will determine if that can be achieved or whether there will be a major falling-out over the distribution of profits from Wimbledon and the world's three other premier championships.

It would be misleading to say that Scott is settling into his new office in St Petersburg, Florida, because as soon as he has introduced himself to the staff he intends to embark on a tour of duty that includes an early meeting with Tim Phillips, the Wimbledon chairman. "[Equal prize-money] is obviously one of the most important issue to the players," Scott said.

Although he has an American accent, Scott is not an insular administrator, pointing out that during his time with the ATP he spent two years in Sydney, two years in Monte Carlo, and was in London for the last seven years. "My commitment is, obviously, to be where the Tour's global headquarters is, in St Petersburg," he said. "But I think I bring an international perspective, and understand very well the nuances of how we market and promote the sport in different cultures."

Mark Miles, who has been given an extended contract as the ATP's chief executive, will be on the opposite side of the negotiating table from Scott, his former right-hand man. "I'm not surprised that the WTA Tour Board has tapped Larry to lead their organisation," Miles said. "He has shown himself to be knowledgeable, hard-working and dedicated."

Martina Navratilova, who won the Wimbledon singles title nine times and continues to play doubles on the Tour at the age of 46, intends to have a voice in the WTA's new regime. "We need to change the structure, the players need to have more say, and we need room to evolve," Navratilova said during the Nasdaq-100 Open here last week.

"The players feel under-represented," she added. "There needs to be a lot more give and take. The ITF come to us and say, 'It's a done deal'. Nobody negotiates. There's a whole bunch of promoters and sponsors, there's all kinds of places we can play tournaments, but there's only 10 players that are in the top 10. There's only one Serena Williams. You can't substitute for her. Right now, the players need somehow to regain more of the power they had."

Scott has a lot of sorting out to do. "Within 100 days you'll have a pretty clear idea of any changes that will be happening with the organisation and where it's heading," he said.