“I am a thorn on the side of many” Novak Djokovic speaks about his work with PTPA
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Novak Djokovic
World no. 1 Novak Djokovic is a 20-time grand slam champion. Despite being at par with longtime rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Djokovic is often not accorded the same courtesy as his illustrious peers. This could very well be attributed to his outspoken nature, and his fearlessness in speaking out against the biggest of organizations, including the ATP and WTA.
Keeping in tune with his sharp critics, Novak Djokovic founded the PTPA, along with Canadian tennis player Vasek Pospisil. The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) is an association of ATP and WTA tennis players. The group represents singles players in the top 500 and doubles players in the top 200 of the ATP and WTA rankings. It was founded by players who had previously been members of the Association of Tennis Professionals Players Council. Members of the PTPA include Novak Djokovic, the outgoing president of the Council, and Vasek Pospisil.
There is a monopoly system in tennis: Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic has long advocated for a fair and equitable distribution of prize money amongst the ATP and WTA players. Having grown up in the rough, war-torn Balkan regions, the Serb understands the importance of money and the struggle of the tennis players who remain outside the top peripheries of the ranking system. This is one of the issues, he hopes to resolve via the PTPA organization.
Speaking to Serbian media, Djokovic said that he is a thorn on the side of many, but he won’t give up. Djokovic told SportKlub “We are a conformist society, we always prefer to join the herd than to get out of it. Instead of saying ‘this is wrong, it’s not fair, I will fight for this other one, who is ‘less fortunate than me’. I know that I am a thorn on the side of many, I am trying to expose the monopoly that has been in our sport for many years.”
He further added “I know who I am and what I am, I know what is fair. Barely 150 players make a living from tennis in the men’s and women’s categories. Give me any other sport in which this is the case. It is precisely for these guys and girls that we stand. They work hard. But they don’t listen to them. The elite will rise while they fight, that’s why the little one from Serbia is here to intervene and show them how to do it.”
Also read: “Proud and happy,” says Emma Raducanu after breaking into the top 20 WTA Rankings
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Aradhana Nayak
(189 Articles Published)