“I’m not in agreement with him, but it’s his choice,” Martina Navratilova believes Novak Djokovic’s PTPA is a failure and hasn’t helped tennis in any way
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On July 10, 2022, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic defeated Nick Kyrgios in the Wimbledon finals to win his seventh Wimbledon title and fourth consecutive crown. He now has 21 Grand Slam championships, surpassing Roger Federer, and needs just one more to tie Rafael Nadal‘s record for most singles Grand Slams.
Canadian tennis player Vasek Pospisil and Novak Djokovic started a breakaway association of players two years ago. It was established under the name Professional Tennis Players Association. It aimed to address the concerns of the players and offer them a bigger voice in decision-making. However, the new organisation was not welcomed by the ATP. High-profile players like Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer also distanced themselves from it.
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“I don’t agree with him and it certainly didn’t help tennis” Navratilova on Novak Djokovic and the PTPA
During an interview, Navratilova had strong words against Djokovic for launching a breakaway tennis body. She said, “He thinks he’s doing the right thing. I don’t agree with it but it’s his choice. It certainly didn’t seem to help his tennis. I think you’re better off . . . Not staying in your lane, but right now give your energy to that which helps you.”
She further added, “That’s what I don’t understand. Purely from a logical point of view, when you are a champion tennis player, when you commit to the sport, your energy goes into that. Maybe to get away, you watch TV, maybe you do some woodworking, maybe you get into stitching shawls. That helps you relax and it gives you energy.”
Martina felt that this organization was not bringing tennis together, rather on the contrary. “This is not helpful on any level. Do that when you stop playing tennis but it’s controversial and not helpful. During Covid, you’re trying to divide us further when we should be trying to bring the game together and trying to figure out how to play tournaments without people getting sick and dying from Covid? Let’s stay with that problem rather than creating one we don’t need.”
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