Gilles Simon urges players to join Novak Djokovic’s PTPA finding it the only way to fight ATP’s self-centered approach of thinking only for profits

Simon has voiced some strong opinions against the ATP in his recent interview.

Gilles Simon urges players to join Novak Djokovic’s PTPA finding it the only way to fight ATP’s self-centered approach of thinking only for profits

Novak Djokovic (L), Gilles Simon (R) (Sources: US Open, Wikipedia)

The PTPA (Professional Tennis Players Association) is an association of the top 500 singles players and the top 200 women’s players in both the ATP and WTA. It was founded in 2019 by players Vasek Pospisil and Novak Djokovic to represent and fight for the rights of tennis players.

Amid a time when players are losing their trust in ATP and WTA every single day, Gilles Simon has recently urged players to join the PTPA to fight the self-centered approach of the existing organizations. 

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Novak's union, if all players joined, would represent 100% of the players in negotiations. The players would be independent, then you have to negotiate with the ATP, with the tournaments, what needs to be negotiated. There, the ATP which represents us does not represent the players. It represents itself first, and even when it negotiates with the Grand Slams, it represents itself.
Gilles Simon. (H/T: Tennis Legend)

Simon elaborated on his point by saying that the ATP has its own interests and functions, like tournaments. It has a Masters and other tournaments like the Youth Masters, ATP Cup, and United Cup.

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Thus, it does not necessarily make decisions for the players but it makes decisions for itself that generate a lot of money and focuses on just that – making more money. In the ATP’s paradigm, the players are not a major stakeholder at all and thus Gilles Simon goes on to claim that if ATP cares about the players 50%, the goal is to have an organization that represents the players 100%. 

Gilles Simon is unhappy with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer not doing anything for the players

Besides praising Novak Djokovic’s efforts in trying to change the current structure of the tennis scenario by founding PTPA, which is actually showing potential, Gilles Simon also criticized Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer for not doing anything in the same manner. 

Gilles Simon
Gilles Simon (Source: Limakservice)
Contrary to what is conveyed, they are there, they are working, but you can put whoever you want, Rafael Nadal is very small inside. He himself thinks he will succeed but everything is already compartmentalized. Even a player like that, he can't change things. If Federer and Nadal cannot change it, it is not possible. 

The French player opined that both Nadal and Federer are huge names in the tennis world and they could have had a huge impact on the cause. Unfortunately, neither of them showed interest in taking initiative in the process. 

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