“Wanted a change in structure and more player representation” – Analyst Matt Roberts points out why Novak Djokovic established PTPA

Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic established the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) just before the US Open this year. Djokovic, who was the President of the ATP Player Council back then joined the established, by virtue of creating the establishment, along with fellow tennis stars Vasek Pospisil and John Isner.

The PTPA was created in order to ‘voice out the opinion of all players, especially those that don’t belong to the elite category’. The decision to create the establishment came after a few accusations citing injustice on not-so-privileged players of the ATP Player Council being committed.

However, the PTPA received negative reception from a majority of tennis players including Rafael Nadal who stated that, “This is a time for unity. Not separation.” Roger Federer is also said to have been against it while Andy Murray stated that while he was not against the PTPA, he felt time should be given to the ATP Player Council.

‘The problem was with the structure’

Tennis analyst Matt Roberts spoke in his podcast, ‘The Tennis Podcast‘ with former President of ATP Chris Kermode about the issue of establishment of the PTPA.

He said, “We’ve heard many things as to why they want to set up the PTPA, about why they want a change in leadership. I always find it difficult to talk about ATP politics because we just hear these reports, these nuggets and it kind of becomes a question of who do you believe. But I’ve never heard those numbers before and it would be fascinating to put those numbers behind the people at the PTPA.”

Speaking about how the problem was not with the President but the structure he added, “They didn’t actually have a problem with Chris Kermode. They’ve had a problem with the structure, they’ve talked so much of wanting to change the structure. They want more player representation.” Matt further stated that there was a case of misunderstanding between the ATP and the proposed PTPA which led to the latter’s establishment.

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