'Not a carnival sideshow'

1 month ago 13

A radical of starring doubles players person accused the men's ATP Tour of trying to "end doubles arsenic a viable profession".

In a gathering astatine Wimbledon connected Tuesday, the circuit projected changes which could see halving the size of doubles draws from 2028.

That would mean lone 16 teams being capable to vie astatine ATP 1000 events, and conscionable 8 astatine the smaller tournaments connected tour.

The percent of prize wealth devoted to doubles players could autumn from 20% to 10% - with the wealth redistributed to singles players.

"Doubles isn't a carnival sideshow," the players said successful a statement.

"It is 1 of the astir palmy parts of tennis - integral to the amateur crippled - with the imaginable to bash truthful overmuch more.

"Yet the interaction of the ATP's proposals volition beryllium to diminish the sporting excellence that is nonrecreational doubles and crook disconnected the pipeline of pro doubles players and the full infrastructure that supports them.

"Doubles is not an afterthought we fell into. It has ever been portion of this sport's identity, not a discount mentation of it."

At the archetypal Masters 1000 lawsuit of the twelvemonth successful Indian Wells, Jannik Sinner received $1.151m (£860,000) for winning the title. Guido Andreozzi and Manuel Guinard won $234,000 (£175,000) each for winning the doubles.

The players reason the changes mean determination would beryllium nary aboriginal for doubles players ranked extracurricular the world's apical 30.

"Do the maths connected what that means for anyone extracurricular the apical 30: it volition beryllium intolerable to marque a living," the connection continued.

"This is not a insignificant adjustment. It is simply a program to extremity doubles arsenic a viable profession, dressed up arsenic a cost-saving measurement - and it is being pushed done with astir nary transparency and astir nary consultation with the players whose careers and livelihoods are connected the line."

Many wrong the athletics judge a 20% stock for doubles players is disproportionate to the involvement successful the event.

The days of galore ATP professionals playing some singles and doubles are agelong gone. There are present efficaciously 2 abstracted cohorts of players, which successful crook puts greater strain connected subordinate facilities connected tract astatine tournaments.

"We are assessing the doubles product, gully sizes and subordinate compensation organisation with the purpose of creating a much sustainable semipermanent exemplary portion maintaining doubles' important relation connected the tour," an ATP spokesperson said.

"The reappraisal is besides assessing whether changes to the doubles exemplary could alteration accrued concern successful early-round singles prize money, helping much players astatine the highest level to amended conscionable the costs of competing connected circuit and physique sustainable nonrecreational careers.

"Any imaginable changes volition beryllium developed done adjacent consultation with players, tournaments and the ATP board, with immoderate decisions made successful the champion semipermanent interests of the athletics and its consumers."

This latest improvement comes portion the world's starring singles players proceed to telephone for a higher stock of Grand Slam gross to beryllium dedicated to prize money - a abstracted contented to however the ATP Tour financially rewards its players.

Earlier this week, players ended their boycott of Wimbledon media duties aft "constructive meetings" with the All England Club.

In summation to prize money, players privation the Grand Slams to absorption much of their gross towards payment benefits specified arsenic pensions and maternity leave.

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