ATP Players Don’t Expect a Quick Fix

Written by: Staff on 17th January 2012

ATP Players Don’t Expect a Quick Fix |

Like many other players, Alex Bogomolov is thrilled with current unity of ATP players over various political issues that came out of their weekend meeting at the Aussie Open.

“I was very excited as far as how the players were united,” Bogomolov said. “I’ve never been to a meeting like that before in my life. I know all these guys for 12 years already. The way everybody is sticking by each other, the way everybody is on the same page, is inspiring. For me, 28 years old, I’m trying to sort of improve the game for the younger generation that’s coming up, for the fans, for the tournaments. Everything has to grow. I’m part of that right now. I’m at the end of my career. We’re trying to make it better for the guys coming up.

The players have been discussing ways to change the calendar, reduce the number of days at specific tournaments like at the Masters Series events Indian Wells and Miami, and getting more of the Grand Slam revenue pie. The ATP has been trying to get more prize money out of the Slams for decades, but have not had much success. However, the majors do raise their prize money annually. The Australian Open is currently paying out $26 million (AU) in total prize money.

Despite chatter about a potential strike, there has been no concrete movement in that direction according to ATP council members Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Sam Querrey. Federer and former ATP Players Council president Ivan Ljubicic said it would be foolish to make such a move at this time

“It’s such a dangerous word to use,” Federer, said. “That’s why I always say, ‘Let’s try to avoid it as much as we can. I think that would be the best for all of us: (the press), fans, tournaments and players. It’s not good for anyone really. We’ve seen it in other sports happening in the States. That’s why I’m always very careful about it. If there’s no avoiding it, I’ll support the rest of the players. But I just think we have to think it through how we do it, if we do it, can we do it, instead of just going out and screaming about it. That’s not how I think you’re going to get results.”

Andy Roddick believes that it’s the organizational voting structure of the ATP that is preventing change even though he said that he’s happy with ATP leaders. He was encouraged by the meeting, but also said that change will not come over night.

“It’s an organizational thing,” he said. “It’s an infrastructure thing. It’s a process thing, how to have a clear plan and kind of where to go. It’s the middle ground. There were the exact same conversations in ’02. Then there was a divide. Unity is a hard thing to attain. While I think we have probably the majority, it’s easy to talk about it, but it’s another thing to go through the process and the work and the hours to try to get an angle. So I don’t think this is going to be a quick fix. I don’t think we should force a quick fix. But I think we need to be unified and organized if we want to get something done eventually.

Topics: Tennis News