The PTPA forms - and the ATP is not amused
The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), founded last fall, has filled a number of administrative posts. A conflict with the ATP is looming.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Jun 26, 2021, 07:14 pm
Novak Djokovic had work to do in Mallorca this week, Vasek Pospisil in Eastbourne. Behind the scenes, however, the two people in charge of the Professional Tennis Players Association, which was founded in the run-up to the US Open 2020, continued to work on their project, filling a few positions in the administration. Adam Larry was appointed Executive Director to be in the frontline of the PTPA. Larry had previously headed the National Hockey League (NHL) players' association.
They want to help all players, not just the best 100 in the world, Larry said in a broadcast. The aim is to secure a professional livelihood for tennis professionals. And to properly represent their rights on and off the field. To this end, they want to work with all world tennis institutions, i.e. the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the Grand Slam tournaments, the WTA and the ATP.
Nadal, Federer, Thiem not in the PTPA
The latter, however, did not enjoy the PTPA, to say the least. After all, the ATP sees itself as an organization in which the players are more represented than in any other sport. Especially in the period after the 2020 Corona break, the ATP managed to provide its players with numerous work opportunities in the form of tournaments. The founding of the PTPA met with incomprehension among those responsible around ATP boss Andrea Gaudenzi.
Which is why the ATP responded to the PTPA's statement with a clear announcement. "The fragmentation has been identified time and again by leading experts inside and outside of sport as the greatest threat to the growth potential of tennis." In addition, the players on the tour are already enjoying the benefits required by the PTPA, such as advice outside of the sport, But above all, they also received a pension after the end of their active period.
How many tennis players have now joined the PTPA is unclear. Also whether the members are only men or also players. As is well known, the idea of Djokovic and Pospisil found no support from top people such as Rafael Nadal , Roger Federer , Alexander Zverev or Dominic Thiem .
In his most recent statement, Novak Djokovic calls on the ATP to postpone the vote on its 30-year plan. Too many questions are still open. It smells like a labor dispute.