“My first reaction to the nomination was to accept it,” Novak Djokovic on his nomination to the ATP Player Council

“My first reaction to the nomination was to accept it,” Novak Djokovic on his nomination to the ATP Player Council

Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic, 17 time Grandslam champion has faced a lot of criticism in the past few months for co-founding the Professional Players Tennis Association (PTPA), alongside the Canadian, Vasek Pospisil. Many players including the likes of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have criticized the PTPA and said that it was not the right time to form a new body amidst the global pandemic. They believed it was time for tennis to be united rather than being divided.

Novak Djokovic who left the ATP Players Council after he fell out with the council, was nominated back to the council elections last month. The Serbian stated that his initial reaction was to accept the nomination but the new decision by the ATP to stop members from being a part of two councils, stopped him from doing the same. The new rule proposed by ATP was such that Novak Djokovic could no longer be a part of the PTPA if there was any conflict of interest with the ATP.

“I would like to first say, as always, I am honoured by the continued support and confidence shown by those who nominated me to once again serve our collective player interests on the council. My first reaction to this nomination was to accept it with the intention that, if elected, I would do my best to protect players interests within the ATP,” wrote Novak Djokovic in his Instagram post.

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No intention of being in conflict with the ATP: Novak Djokovic on co-founding the PTPA

The Serbian stated that he was put in a difficult position after new ATP Rule

Novak Djokovic stated that the PTPA had no intention of being in conflict with the ATP. Previously, Djokovic had stated that the PTPA was an organization to provide an additional platform for players to voice their opinion and under no circumstances was it a rival organization to the ATP.

“I am part of the PTPA, an organization that was recently created with no intention of being in conflict with the ATP. The PTPA has yet to be structured with its strategy and long term vision yet to be clearly defined, and although the PTPA has made it clear it does not intend to be combative, it is unclear how the ATP will view the association in the future,” wrote Djokovic.

Novak Djokovic also stated that he was put in a difficult position by the latest ATP rule which does not allow a player to be a part of two councils, including the PTPA. The ATP stated that any player having a ‘conflict of interest’ cannot be elected to the Players Council.

“However, a few days after my nomination the ATP passed a new rule which has now put me in a difficult position. This new rule specifies that all members of the newly formed Professional Tennis Players Association or any association that is deemed as having a “conflict of interest” cannot be elected as a member of the Players Council.” the Serbian added.

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