Wimbledon Champion Calls Out ATP for Their Radical Doubles Plan: “We’re Here to Grow the Game”

While Jannik Sinner became the first singles player to qualify for the ATP Finals on Friday (July 10) after reaching the Wimbledon semifinals, Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten became the first doubles team to qualify for the year-end championships after lifting the Wimbledon title.

On Saturday (July 11), in front of the packed Centre Court crowd, the team of Heliovaara and Patten defeated Mate Pavic and Marcelo Arevalo 7-6(4), 7-6(3) to win a Grand Slam doubles title for the third time in their career. It was also the second time they tasted glory at SW19 following the 2024 season. The Finnish-British duo claimed their fifth tour-level title of the season.

During the trophy presentation, Patten called out the ATP for their plan to cut the doubles draw and prize money.

The ATP submitted proposals to maybe cut some of the doubles. I’m a strong believer that we’re here to grow the game. This is a fantastic example (pointing to the Center Court crowd) of the joy that doubles can bring. I believe we should be growing opportunities for kids, whether it is doubles or singles players. We should be growing the sport instead of taking opportunities away.

Henry Patten said

3-time Grand Slam champion and current World No 1, Henry Patten, in his #Wimbledon victory speech 🔥📣👏 pic.twitter.com/qLBXXSNwL6

— Lili ✨🎾 WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONS 🏆🏆🏆 !!!!!!!!!!!!! (@nowhere_lili) July 11, 2026

The ATP plans to reduce the prize money from 20% to 10% starting in 2028. Because of their proposals, Patten also clashed with Reilly Opelka on social media. Opelka thinks doubles players are failed singles players and that the ATP should go ahead with their plans.

Henry Patten says doubles can play a huge role in helping the ATP grow the sport

Later, at the press conference, Henry Patten talked more about why he doesn’t advocate for the ATP’s controversial proposal. He is convinced that this format can really help the ATP grow the game, and the tour’s focus should also be on helping people make a living out of tennis.

Yeah, I’ve said it all week, every single round we’ve played, we started on Court 16, 17, something like that. Full crowd. We then played on Court 18, full crowd. Played on Court 2 a couple times, full crowd. Court 1, full crowd. Today, full crowd. It’s difficult because it seems like no matter how many times you do that, there’s like this very strong narrative that the product itself just isn’t good enough. I don’t think that’s true.

Harri Heliovaara and Patten have become the first doubles players to win multiple titles at the All England Club since Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan in 2011. Patten has also become the first British player to win multiple titles in doubles at SW19 since Randolph Lycett (1922 and 1923). He has become the first British man in the Open Era to achieve this feat.

I think we’ve kind of proven that to be wrong. Of course, Wimbledon plays a huge part in that. People come to Wimbledon to watch tennis, whether it’s singles, doubles, wheelchair singles, wheelchair doubles, juniors, exhibition. People come to Wimbledon to watch tennis. I feel strongly that doubles can play a strong part in that and can help the ATP Tour grow the game. I think that’s what we should be focused on. No more in-fighting. It doesn’t help anyone.

Henry Patten added

Heliovaara and Patten paired up for the first time in 2024 for the clay swing, and since then they have achieved considerable success together. Prior to the London Major, they won titles in Adelaide, Doha, Dubai, and Madrid. They also made the final of the French Open but failed to defeat the pair of Marcel Granollers and Marcel Granollers.

Also read: Novak Djokovic Slams Serbian Media for Demanding Another Grand Slam Title: “It isn’t Mandatory”