Novak Djokovic’s new players’ association has momentum but still divides opinion

“I’ve been part of the player council for almost 10 years and have been president of the council for over five years. I’ve seen everything from the inside.

“I’ve experienced politics from the inside of the structure. I know the way the hierarchy works. And unfortunately, players always pick the shorter end of the stick and that’s why we feel a player organization is necessary.”

The PTPA can now boast a more professional infrastructure and has this week launched new partnerships that will provide its members — said to be 500 — with guidance and advice about building brands and business decisions.

One of the new projects, Courtside Curriculum, will offer players personal and professional development provided by leading global experts.

Partly, it’s in order to help the hundreds of tennis players who struggle to make a living playing the game.

Djokovic, of course, is one of the few who has earned a comfortable life from tennis but says his desire to help in this organization is not about “individual legacy” but about improving the sport as a whole.

“The players’ voices are not heard enough and I’m talking about the lower ranked players,” he said. “Obviously, what you hear and see in the media is top players and their prize money earnings.

“But the thing that probably 95% of the people who follow tennis, and particularly the ones that are not avid tennis fans, […] do not know is, as I mentioned, only around one hundred players on both the women’s and men’s side live out of this sport and we want to change that.”

Top players would be ‘massive help’

While Djokovic has been a driving force behind this project, a lot of the day-to-day business has been conducted by co-founder Vasek Pospisil.

The Canadian, ranked 58th in the world, says he hopes more players will get on board with the project, including the bigger names such as Federer, Nadal and Serena Williams.

“It would be a massive help, absolutely,” he told CNN Sport.

“I think maybe — maybe they feel like it’s a big step to take. You know, it’s obviously something that could be transformational in the sport and there’s always a question mark.

“So I totally respect that they haven’t got on board to support us yet. I’m very optimistic. I’m very optimistic that they will at some point.

“I just believe that what we’re doing is, you know, it’s all for the right reasons. I truly believe that it’s critical for our sport.”

While the ATP has released negative statements about the breakaway group, those at the PTPA believe a time will come when the sport’s existing governing bodies will have to work with them.

Pospisil says that time could be a matter of months away with the organization gaining momentum but said it would stop short of boycotting tournaments in order to get itself heard.

“We are here to be an additional help to what they already have within the ATP and WTA structure,” Djokovic added.

“We feel like the ATP and WTA are doing a very good job with many different things and they’re trying constantly to upgrade the services that they provide to their players.

“We are not here to only criticize and point out the negatives. But, you know, looking at the larger picture and the long run, we feel like the PTPA can contribute to even better business and even better operations and functionality of the entire system and structure in both women’s and men’s tennis.”

Last year, the ATP said the plans were divisive and said it remained “committed to working closely with the other governing bodies of tennis as we look to fulfill the true potential of our sport.”

When asked its thoughts on the PTPA, the WTA — organizers of the women’s tour — said it would continue looking out for its players.

“The viewpoint of our members is paramount to the culture and decision making process of the WTA,” a statement to CNN read this week.

“All decisions are made with the players and tournaments together, being equally represented. Players are at the table where the decision making takes place and their voice is well represented in all decisions that the WTA makes.”

It added: “It is paramount for all of us to continue to work together, as we truly believe, and have witnessed since the inception of the WTA, that we are stronger together.”

Vaccination advice

Amid the pandemic, the organization will also have to deal with the issue of player vaccinations.

The vaccine is not yet mandatory for players on the tour but conditions for those fully vaccinated are far more comfortable during tournaments and grand slams.

When asked how the PTPA plans on approaching the topic, Djokovic said it was still a work in progress.

“I’m not an expert, of course, and I’m not going to talk about what are the pros and cons of getting vaccinated,” he said. “But I am a proponent of freedom of choice.”

He added: “So I really believe that it should be left to a player to make a decision.

“We don’t know what the future holds. I don’t think any industry is really certain what the future brings.

“We are going to make sure that we gather as much as expert information on this and work with players and provide whatever information is needed for them to make a conscious choice.”