Novak Djokovic is currently the most powerful voice in world tennis and he is committed to using that influence to force change at the top of the game.
The world number 1 has never been afraid to express his opinions on the most controversial topics, with his stance on the Covid-19 vaccine resulting in him not being allowed to compete in high-profile tournaments. level for almost two years proof that he is a man who will stand up for what he believes in.
Now, Djokovic has launched a new verbal jab at the ATP Tour chiefs and, as one of the leaders of the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA), the 24-time Grand Slam great insisted on the makes players deserve more of a say in decisions that concern them.
In a candid interview published in sportal.rshe insisted tennis executives should not be allowed to control the destiny of the game and believes players must have a greater voice.
“There is currently a monopoly in tennis, as well as other major global sports at this level, but I can only speak when it comes to tennis,” he said.
“Many tennis media also choose not to write about this topic because it is not in the best interests of those who pay them.
“It’s a vicious game and a vicious cycle, but as long as I have a voice to be heard, I will use it.”
Djokovic then suggested that pressure from himself and those involved in the PTPA forced the ATP Tour to address the issue of salaries for players at the lower level of the game.
In August, the ATP announced Baseline, a transformative financial security program for ATP players expected to launch in 2024 as part of a three-year trial.
The program includes guaranteed base earnings, which guarantee minimum income levels for the top 250 singles players each season.
If a player’s prize money ends up below the guaranteed threshold, the ATP will step in to make up the shortfall. For the 2024 season, these levels are $300,000 (Top 100), $150,000 (101-175), and $75,000 (176-250). This assurance will allow players to plan their seasons with more certainty, focus on their game and invest in their teams.
This includes covering expenses for personal trainers and physiotherapists, as well as travel.
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It’s the kind of financial help Djokovic has campaigned for in recent years and he believes it was only introduced under pressure from high-profile voices like his own.
“Within the PTPA, we have already managed to say, indirectly as well as directly, to force the ATP to reconsider certain decisions,” he added.
“Directly a little less because they do not allow us to enter the system and be part of the decision-making table, to have direct participation in the system, but indirectly we have solved a lot of things in a way positive and provoked.
“Here is the latter, where the ATP has increased the sums of money for injured players absent from the Tour. They are now guaranteed a certain amount of money. They have taken this step forward, which I of course welcome.
“Is this step enough? That’s not the case, but I welcome it and I’m pretty sure they did it because the PTPA and all the stakeholders support these initiatives and constantly communicate on this topic, they say how important it is to approach it in the right way and talk about it. things that are, as you might call it, taboo in the theme.
“We constantly talk about how much a Grand Slam champion or a world number one earns, and we don’t talk about how many players can make a living from the sport they play. It’s a change of thesis, and I’m just going to continue to point out some things that are obvious and present and that they don’t want to address.
Djokovic is the biggest name in tennis and when he speaks, everyone in the game tends to listen.
He has always been a passionate campaigner for the causes he believes in, so the ATP will know that its biggest star could also be its loudest issue in the years to come.
