ATP Plans to Downshift on Doubles, Cutting Prize Money and Opportunity

The ATP is about to downshift on doubles. 

According to Ben Rothenberg of Bounces, the ATP Tour is planning measures that would favor singles and disadvantage doubles. 

Bounces reports that proposals were presented to the ATP Player Council during ATP-WTA 1000 Rome, and ATP doubles players met with their representatives on the ATP Player Council on Tuesday at Wimbledon.

A plan called “Product 28,” targets a reduction of ATP doubles draw sizes and the share of prize money alloted to the discipline. 

Here’s more from Rothenberg on the subject: 

“Under the proposals, doubles draw sizes would be halved, going from 32 to 16 pairs at ATP Masters 1000 events, and from 16 to 8 at 500 and 250-level events… The smaller number of players would be part of a plan to reduce the percentage of prize money that goes toward doubles.”

The tour plans to reinvest the money saved into early rounds of singles, making the sport more livable for players ranked just inside and outside of the Top 100. 

Doubles players held a meeting of about 50 players at Wimbledon. They know the odds are stacked against them, but they want to start getting the word out through media channels so they can garner public support. 

Their argument is that the ATP doesn’t even bother promoting the product, and now they want to claim that doubles doesn’t capture enough attention. 

“They want to reduce the size of the draws and scale back the role of doubles in general; obviously, we need to fight that. That means talking to the media so everyone is aware of what might happen and gauging the general reaction to see if we can stop it,” said Edouard Roger-Vasselin, a former World No.6, in quotes reported by RMC. 

“Basically, it doesn’t generate profit for them—so that’s the message they’re sending. We disagree with that, of course, but it’s an internal battle we aren’t going to win… We’re trying every possible way to propose ideas, but they aren’t interested. So now, we’re trying to counter their plans through other channels.”