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To prevent Novak Djokovic’s return to the player council, the ATP specifically issued a new rule this week. The Serbian is disappointed and misunderstood.
In August, Novak Djokovic stepped down as chairman of the ATP Players Council and founded the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), a kind of players’ union that shouldn’t be. The new association was an autonomous structure for the players and their direct contact, it was said at the time.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal harshly criticized Djokovic’s approach at the time. His main argument: the intentions of the Serbs are too opaque and a division of the players in times of a global pandemic is too risky. “If the purpose is to represent the interests of all the players, why haven’t so many players been included? Why wasn’t the player advice even asked? The two record Grand Slam winners wanted to know.
Even three months later, it is not very clear in which direction the PTPA wants to go. What is clear, however: Djokovic wants to return to the players council. “I was nominated by a large number of players to be part of the players’ council,” said the Serb after his loss to Daniil Medvedev in the ATP final. “I am honored and obligated to represent these players and I see no conflict in being part of the PTPA and the players council.”
Disappointed Djokovic feels misunderstood
It is precisely this point that is evidently a thorn in the side of ATP. Because, according to Djokovic, the association unceremoniously passed a new rule on Tuesday night that prohibits joining two organizations at the same time. It must mean that whoever is part of the PTPA cannot be elected to the ATP players council.
The 33-year-old cannot understand the decision. “That’s disappointing, to be honest, because no one from the ATP has notified me,” says Djokovic annoyed and misunderstood. “We want to work with the ATP, we just want to have our place in the tennis ecosystem because the players deserve it. But the message is quite strong. ATP does not want PTPA in this ecosystem. You don’t want players of both structures. “
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