Novak Djokovic - "The PTPA is not where it should be"
At the Media Day before the ATP Finals in Turin, Novak Djokovic also took on the status of the professional tennis players association he founded. The finding: unsatisfactory.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Nov 12, 2021, 12:54 pm
Efficiency was the keyword on Media Day two days before the start of the ATP Finals in Turin. The players basically gave each other a hand on the podium, to which the journalists only had access by telephone. Yes, there will also be reports from on site - but the press conferences will only take place virtually in 2021, as in the previous year.
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So Novak Djokovic appears. The world number one was allowed to be the first of the eight best players of the year in front of the camera, of course, the triumph in Paris-Bercy last Sunday did not harm the 34-year-old's well-being. He had always been of the opinion that the season finale should not take place in one place for too long, so Djokovic can gain a lot from the move to Turin. On the other hand: Novak Djokovic is also a business man, of course he knows that the decade in London's O2 Arena was a financial blessing.
Novak Djokovic starts against Casper Ruud
The work of the “Professional Tennis Players Association”, which Djokovic initiated together with Vasek Pospisil at the US Open 2020, should also be blessed. However, the status quo cannot satisfy the industry leader. "The PTPA is not where it should be," said Djokovic on record. Some media and players would have expected more from the association, which represents 100 percent of the interests of the players.
One of the problems, however, is that the PTPA still lacks the respect and recognition of the relevant bodies, said Djokovic, who was drawn into a group with Stefanos Tsitsipas , Andrey Rublev andCasper Ruud in Turin. The PTPA's staff would, however, be expanded to include more and more people with relevant experience. And, according to Djokovic, an announcement about the next steps would be imminent.
But first of all there are the sporting challenges. And above all Casper Ruud, against whom Djokovic denies his start. As befits the godfather of professional players, the Belgrade man only had compliments for Ruud. To clear the podium after the short hymn of praise for the Norwegian - the tight schedule made Daniil Medvedev wait.
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