Over the past couple of seasons, there has been a lot of animosity between certain players and the ATP. Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil have expressed objections to the current way of ATP’s functioning and advocated for a change in governance structure.
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Recently, ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi commented that players on the Challenger Tour should take care of their own expenses. He even compared their situation to that of students in a university. To that, the Canadian tennis professsional took objection.
He blasted the ATP’s Chairman and stated, “This is incredibly ignorant from the so-called leader of the ATP and the sport of tennis. A multi-billion dollar industry yet this man feels it’s ok for only the top 100 players to make a living. This is what happens when you completely monopolize the sport. #changeiscoming #PTPA.”
This is incredibly ignorant from the so-called leader of the ATP and the sport of tennis. A multi-billion dollar industry yet this man feels it’s ok for only the top 100 players to make a living. This is what happens when you completely monopolize the sport. #changeiscoming #PTPA
Not a fan of this from ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi to FT... "In the Challenger Tour you should be able to break even & pay your costs. But you have to be conscious that this is sort of like a university. It's an investment. Then go & move into the pro tour where you have a job"
Djokovic and Pospisil have been disappointed with the ATP
Andrea called the challenger tours, where the majority of men’s tennis players compete, an ‘investment’ and further said, “I don’t think it will ever be possible to have a sustainable tour at that level.”
Vasek Pospisil and World No. 1 Novak Djokovic established the PTPA (Professional Tennis Players Association) with the view of helping players outside the top-100 earn a living for themselves through professional tennis. The recent statement made by the ATP Chief highlights the exact reason why Djokovic and Pospisil came forward with the idea for alternate governance.
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EASTBOURNE, ENGLAND – JUNE 28: Victorious Novak Djovokic of Serbia shakes hands with Vasek Pospisil of Canada during Day 4 of the Aegon International Eastbourne tournament at Devonshire Park on June 28, 2017 in Eastbourne, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Coming to tennis, Pospisil had an ordinary year on Tour this season, with a 8-16 record. He’s currently ranked at 133 in the world and will be hoping for a strong 2022 season.
What do you make of Gaundezi’s comments?
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