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Novak Djokovic resigns from players council to form a new players body


World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has resigned as president of the players council of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) to reportedly set up a new player-led governing body.

The ATP currently governs the men’s professional Tour and its board is composed of representatives of both players and tournaments on the circuit.

Although Novak Djokovic is yet to formally comment, his fellow council member Vasek Pospisil confirmed his own resignation and hinted at the concerns among professional players with the current set up.

“After two years on the ATP Player Council, I am resigning from my position as the player representative for the 51-100 ranking positions,” Pospisil wrote on Twitter.

“It has become clear that, as a player council member within the current structure of the ATP, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to have any significant impact on any major decisions made by our tour.”

A document detailing plans and objectives for the new body, which will be called the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) has already been distributed to players seeking their approval.

“The goal of the PTPA is not to replace the ATP, but to provide players with a self-governance structure that is independent from the ATP and directly responsive to player-members’ needs and concerns,” according to the New York Times report who has quoted from the document.

Djokovic did not attend the post-match news conference after his Cincinnati Open semi-final win over Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut due to felling unwell.

However his final opponent, Canadian Milos Raonic said a “majority” of players was expected to sign in favour of the new association.

“Players have had plenty of time to think and reflect and take a look at certain parts which they may not be happy with and discuss,” he said after his semi-final win.

“I don’t know. A lot of us were kept in the dark by our leadership for six months. We were disappointed with many things.”

 

 


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