“I have been nominated by players to join back the ATP player’s council,” clarifies Novak Djokovic

“I have been nominated by players to join back the ATP player’s council,” clarifies Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic clarified he was nominated to join back the ATP Players council

Novak Djokovic, shocked the tennis community on Wednesday when he announced his plans to join back the ATP Players council alongside Vasek Pospisil. The Serbian along with Pospisil created the Professional Tennis Players Association just on the eve of the US Open. The duo left the membership of the ATP Players council alongside the likes of Sam Querrey, John Isner.

According to Novak Djokovic, the new PTPA organization would allow tennis players an additional platform to voice their opinion and will not clash with the ATP Council. However, he found himself and Pospisil come under extreme criticism for their move. In a twist of events, the duo decided to join back the ATP Players council. However, the Serbian remarked that they were nominated to join back by the players and it was not a voluntary choice.

“I’ve seen you guys writing about me to be applying to be in the council which is not true. I have been nominated by players and that’s how it works. I have not proactively run for the council, neither did Vasek,” said Djokovic.

I don’t see any conflict in PTPA, then or now: Novak Djokovic

The Serbian alongside Vasek Pospisil have come under tremendous criticism after they formed the PTPA

Novak Djokovic reiterated again that the PTPA was not formed to conflict with the ATP Players association. He has come under severe criticism from the likes of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer who have called for unity at such times, instead of dividing tennis. However, the Serbian said he did not see any problem with the PTPA Back in August, nor does he see any now.

“I don’t see any conflict of any kind in being part of the PTPA and the ATP Player council, I have not seen it back in August when the PTPA was founded, I don’t see it now. So that is why I accepted the nomination, as well as Vasek,” said the Serbian.

Novak Djokovic also said that it was a vital for tennis to have an organization apart from the ATP Council to represent 100% player rights. Furthermore, he said that ATP was not an outright player’s council, as it involves both the tourneys and the players. “PTPA was founded because there is none of the organizations right now, and in the history of tennis, that is representing 100 percent player’s rights. We are part of the ATP which is 50 percent players 50 percent tourneys and majority of the times we have conflict of interest,” continued Novak Djokovic.

Also Read: BREAKING: Djokovic and Pospisil make a ‘shocking’ move to rejoin the ATP Players Council!