ATP releases statement, promises to do everything in its powers to protect the interest of its players

ATP releases statement, promises to do everything in its powers to protect the interest of its players

ATP Tour

From the time World No.1 Novak Djokovic and Canadian tennis player Vasek Pospisil decided to break away from the ATP player council and form the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), there has been turbulence and disagreement on several levels between the duo and the ATP.

Back in August 2020, both Djokovic and Pospisil had declared that they will co-exist with the player council, but also insisted that they were not forming a union. The goal of the duo was to fight for the players’ rights.

While quite a few young and veteran ATP players decided to back the newly formed PTPA, tennis icons, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal showed little interest and also clarified that they will stick to helping the ATP.

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Earlier in the week, the PTPA had named an advisory board and a communications firm to “create transparency and fairness throughout decision-making in professional tennis.” However, in response to the PTPA initiative, ATP released a comprehensive statement and insisted that “players’ interests, and those of the Tour as a whole, must and will continue to be protected under its governance.”

ATP statement in response to the PTPA initiative

PTPA
PTPA

“Protecting and advancing the interests of players has been a core principle of the ATP since it was founded as a player association in 1972,” The ATP said in a statement.

“In 1990, this was furthered through the formation of the ATP Tour, an equal partnership between players and tournaments. Through this, players obtained something unique in sports: an equal voice on every decision in the board room of the Tour. Today, ATP management, together with the Board and the ATP Player Council, whose representatives are democratically elected by all players, work week-in and week-out to advance the interests of players.”

“This includes the recent development of an ambitious Strategic Plan that has the potential to deliver game-changing benefits to players through strengthened top tier events, 50-50 profit sharing, increased prize money and bonus pool, full transparency of audited tournament financials, raised tournament standards and long-term stability for the Tour.”

“ATP will continue to do everything in its powers to protect the interest of its members, both players and tournaments, and the many livelihoods that the Tour supports.”

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