ATP power struggle: Novak Djokovic is silent - and counters Nadal
As announced yesterday, ATP President Chris Kermode will have to take his hat off at the end of the year. Djokovic, the President of the Player Council, is silent about who voted exactly how.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Mar 08, 2019, 06:07 pm
"I will not share my personal view," said Djokovic on Media Day in Indian Wells. "If I shared this information, I would be vulnerable and liable to commit a breach of trust. I will not risk that."
Djokovic is one of those in the ATP player council who have supported and favored the deselection of Kermode. "It was decided that it was time for us to look for a new tour," he said.
Above all, the management structure of ATP seems to Djokovic in need of improvement. "If you have three votes from the player council and three from the tournament side, the president's vote is in many cases a kind of tie-break decision. And in most cases there is a conflict of interest. This is one thing that we as a group have to address . "
Already in January, Canadian Vasek Pospisil, a member of the players' council, said that he needed a CEO "who primarily represents the interests of the players."
Stan Wawrinka, not represented on the players' council, had countered that ATP had been moving in the right direction over the past five years, which is also confirmed by a look at the increased prize money.
Djokovic to Federer and Nadal: No one-way street
Djokovic also responded to Rafael Nadal's criticism at the Australian Open. Nadal had complained that he (who is no longer on the players' council) was not asked for his opinion - like other players.
"It goes in both directions, doesn't it?" Countered Djokovic when asked why he hadn't contacted Nadal or Federer. "If you want to talk about something, you can come to me." He spoke to Nadal last September and November, so he doesn't understand why he didn't approach him or any other member of the player council.
"We were chosen by Federer and Nadal and the others to represent the best interests of the players," said the 31-year-old.
Many active and former players had been disappointed with the deselection of Kermode.
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