The ATP Tour have proposed changes that would see the doubles circuit scaled back significantly.
Officials from the Tour met at Wimbledon last week and recommended wide-ranging changes to the professional doubles circuit.
These proposed changes include halving the size of doubles draws from 2028 and reducing the prize money from around 20 per cent to 10 per cent.
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The ATP Tour have also suggested that the prize money saved from this reduction could be redistributed to singles players.
The proposals have sparked mass debate among tennis fans, pundits and professionals; and a collection of leading doubles players have accused the Tour of attempting to ‘end doubles as a viable profession.’
Mark Petchey, the former coach of Emma Raducanu, has offered his take on the matter.
Mark Petchey suggests no sitting down during changeovers as a new rule for doubles
“If Barry Hearn had run doubles it wouldn’t be in the place it is,” Petchey said on X, referencing famous English sports promotor Barry Hearn, who revolutionised the marketing of snooker and darts in the United Kingdom.
“The product needs tinkering with, not blowing up – but no one has even tried,” the English coach added. “The players would be willing to experiment but tennis has a dearth of innovators.
“Not sitting down for the changeovers in doubles would speed up the product exponentially and allow the doubles finals to be played closer to singles finals at events, giving greater visibility to the doubles players.
“That’s just one simple solution.”
Replying to a comment on X, Petchey also said: “There should be more pro-ams with dubs players. Like the Dunhill Links and Pebble Beach.
“We have so many tournaments and we dish up the same product week in and out.”
Earlier in the week, Petchey again voiced his support for the doubles format.
He said: “Less doubles players, smaller draws, then there will be no need for ground passes at Majors past Friday first week.
“Tennis needs doubles.”
Tennis does need doubles. However, Petchey is also right in suggesting that the format needs to be altered in order to attract a greater audience.
The ATP doubles tour is an extremely valuable part of the sport. However, with so few globally recognised players, the format risks falling into obscurity.
The format must be better marketed moving forward – by the ATP Tour and the players themselves.
The full statement from male doubles players
“Include smaller doubles draws, concentrating more prize money among fewer players and reducing opportunities for others to compete and earn a living,” the statement said, explaining the proposals made by the ATP Tour.
“All of this is happening with very little transparency and almost no communication with the players whose careers will be affected the most. We believe this is the wrong approach and the wrong direction for our sport.
“We are all professional tennis players and some of us have found our greatest success in doubles.
“Professional doubles has always been an integral part of tennis. It is played at every Grand Slam, every Olympic Games and every Davis Cup and has always been part of our sport’s identity.
“The impact of these proposals extends far beyond the ATP Tour. They affect coaches, physios, trainers, national federations, clubs around the world and the next generation of players who dream of becoming professionals.
“At a time when tennis is stronger than ever, we should be strengthening every part of our sport, not reducing opportunities within it.
“We urge the ATP to withdraw these proposals and engage in a meaningful and constructive dialogue with the players to make tennis thrive even more.”
It remains to be seen whether this statement has any impact on the ATP Tour’s decision-making processes moving forwards.
