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ATP: Djokovic launches a players association and sows discord

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The rivalry until off the courts: ignoring the calls for “unity” from Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic announced on Saturday the creation of a new association of professional male tennis players, independent of the ATP which manages the circuit.

Novak Djokovic, with other players, launched this night a new association of players, alienating part of the male circuit, and even female, since he was not associated with the project in its first version.

Nadal and Federer had immediately called for “unity, not separation” when they learned that players led by the Serbian world No. 1 could announce the creation of a dissident association.

But after a meeting between the players at the end of the Masters 1000 from Cincinnati, relocated to New York – where Nadal and Federer are absent – Djokovic formalized the launch of the project, specifying that it was neither a “union” or a “parallel circuit”.

“Following today’s successful meeting, we are delighted to announce the establishment of the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA),” he wrote on Instagram, posting a photo of several dozen players. gathered on a tennis court in Flushing Meadows, where the US Open begins on Monday.

Canadian Vasek Pospisil, an ardent member of the ATP Players Council, a body integrated into the institution, opened fire on Friday by announcing his resignation.

“It has become evident that as a member of the players’ council within the current structure of ATP, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to have any influence whatsoever on any major decision on the circuit.” , explained the 92nd world.

“Rally the majority” of players

Before highlighting “the first association of tennis players since 1972”, year of the creation by players of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), which has managed the men’s circuit alone since 1990, Djokovic had simply said earlier Saturday afternoon, after his Masters 1000 victory at the expense of Milos Raonic, that the project was in the making.

“We don’t have all the answers at the moment. We’re just trying to get a sense of how many players really want to join this initiative. Then,” We don’t set a minimum or maximum membership “for validate the project, he continued, hoping nevertheless to “rally the majority” of the 500 best players in singles and the top 200 in doubles, battered in particular by the health crisis.

Djokovic, who has clearly found enough members to move forward, said the PTPA, which he refuses to see as a players’ union, and ATP “can and should coexist at the start”.

The latter rightly affirmed the opposite in a press release in which it criticized this initiative, even before its materialization.

No call for boycott

“We recognize the difficulties our members face in the current circumstances, but we firmly believe that it is time to show unity, rather than internal divisions,” she said.

Member of the players’ council, Rafael Nadal supported ATP. “I think we live in a time where we have to keep calm and work all together in the same direction. It’s time to unite, not to divide,” tweeted the Spaniard, world No.2. “All of us, players, tournaments and governing bodies need to work together.”

A point of view shared by Roger Federer. “I agree @RafaelNadal. These are uncertain and difficult times, but I believe it is essential for us to stay united as players, and as a sport, to prepare the best way forward.” , tweeted the Swiss, who holds the record for Grand Slam victories (20 coronations). Djokovic said he respected the position of his rivals, but wanted to be firm.

“I really understand that some of them have different opinions and they don’t think the time is right. I think the time is right. Legally, we have every right to form the association of players. This is not a union. We are not calling for a boycott. We are not creating a parallel circuit, “he concluded.

In his initiative, Novak Djokovic has achieved the unthinkable: federating the entire governance of world tennis. Thus, Roland-Garros, along with the other three Grand Slam tournaments, the ITF and the WTA, has decided to support ATP.

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