By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Murmurs percolating in Paris suggest the ATP may modify its decision to strip Wimbledon of ranking points.
Novak Djokovic doubts the ATP will change course.
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The world No. 1 told the media in Paris he discussed the issue with ATP President Andrea Gaudenzi and does not expect the ATP to reinstate ranking points to The Championships.
"I actually spoke with president of ATP a few days ago, and I know he told me there is, after the decision was made from ATP, there was some conversations that he had with LTA, but he did not tell me more than that," Djokovic said after his Roland Garros second-round win over Alex Molcan today. "So I don't know really what options are out there on the table, because I doubt that ATP will pull back, I mean, that they will change.
"The decision is there. Now, whether there will be some additions to that decision, that's something we will see. I guess that's something that players would like to discuss with ATP, because they can't discuss with slam, with Grand Slam."
The top-seeded Djokovic, who founded the Professional Tennis Players Association along with Vasek Pospisil, reiterated his criticism of the ATP for shutting the PTPA out of meetings about the ongoing imbroglio between the ATP and WTA Tours and Wimbledon.
Last Friday the two Tours announced they are stripping Wimbledon of ranking points in response to The Championships banning Russian and Belarusian players from SW19. Wimbledon announced earlier this month it is banning Russians and Belarusians in condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Tours have blasted the decision as "discriminatory" and both Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have criticized Wimbledon's decision as unfair.
Djokovic said the ATP structure is broken and "has failed players so many times."
In short, the PTPA wants a seat at the decision-making table and the ATP has shown the group the door. Djokovic charged the Tour continues to mute the voices of players and points to lack of wide-spread consultation with players before its Wimbledon decision as a prime example.
"It's the council of ATP that is within the structure, this representing body of players, and that's how it's been for decades," Djokovic said. "I don't think that's the best system that we have. I just think the system has failed players so many times, so many times, and that's the reason why PTPA needs to exist, because when it comes down to this kind of big decisions, you know, a lot of the players' voices are not heard enough.
"Unfortunately, you know, within ATP you have 50/50 percent of representation between players and tournaments. So you are never going to have 100% players' interest in place."
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