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Doubles Players Rebel Against ATP: Reform Threatens Specialty, Splits Circuit
🇦🇷 Argentina /Elections & Politics

Doubles Players Rebel Against ATP: Reform Threatens Specialty, Splits Circuit

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Professional doubles tennis players are protesting a proposed ATP reform that could drastically reduce the specialty's presence on the circuit.
  • The reforms, planned for 2028, reportedly aim to cut tournament draws and budgets, shifting prize money distribution heavily towards singles.
  • Players and coaches argue this would eliminate jobs and negatively impact the sport's economics and history.

Doubles specialists are voicing strong opposition to a proposed deep reform by the ATP, slated for 2028, which they fear will significantly diminish the role of doubles tennis on the professional circuit. The players argue that the changes, which reportedly include reducing tournament draws and budgets, could cripple their careers and the specialty itself.

At the heart of the dispute is the economic aspect of the proposed reforms. Current information circulating among players suggests a shift in prize money distribution, moving from an 80-20 split between singles and doubles to a 90-10 ratio. Furthermore, Masters 1000 events might see their doubles draws reduced to just 16 pairs, with other tournaments potentially featuring only eight. This reduction in opportunities would directly translate to fewer available spots, decreased earnings, and greater difficulty for many players who rely solely on doubles to sustain their careers.

For the ATP, the doubles players earn too much money.

— Edouard Roger-VasselinIn an interview with L'Equipe, the French player expressed the perceived view of the ATP regarding the earnings of doubles specialists.

Prominent figures in the doubles world have spoken out against the proposed changes. Edouard Roger-Vasselin, a decorated French player with multiple Grand Slam titles in doubles, stated in an interview with L'Equipe that the ATP perceives doubles players as earning too much money. He articulated the view that the ATP believes doubles is too costly, lacks sufficient impact, and does not generate the expected economic returns.

Calvin Betton, coach to world No. 1 doubles player Henry Patten, has gone further, describing the reform project as "repugnant" in an interview with UbiTennis. Betton contends that the ATP, an organization meant to represent all professional tennis players, is pushing a measure that would eliminate job opportunities for specialists. He estimates that around 50 players who currently make a living from doubles could be displaced, with funds redirected to singles players who are already among the circuit's highest earners. Betton also questions the economic rationale, asserting that there is no clear evidence proving doubles does not generate revenue, and points out that doubles often fills court time, especially in the early stages of major tournaments like Wimbledon.

repugnant

— Calvin BettonThe coach of world No. 1 doubles player Henry Patten described the ATP's proposed reform project with this term in an interview with UbiTennis.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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