Schism: Djokovic leads another tennis association and Nadal criticizes him and calls for unity

Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil are working to create an association of players outside the ATP. According to the New York Times, the idea of ​​both is to create a kind of union that “do not substitute for ATP“, but that he fights for the common rights of tennis players freely, since the Association of Professional Tennis Players groups together players and tournaments. So far, Pospisil has been the only one who has publicly stepped forward. The world ranking number 92 has resigned from his duties on the existing Players Council.

For its part, Nole, president of the Council, has not made public anything and his representative has refused to make any statements in this regard, but according to the New York Times, he will also resign from his position and figure in the new body as “co-chair” with Pospisil. In addition, it so happens that the Serbian did not make the usual press conference after his victory against Roberto Bautista in the Masters 1,000 in Cincicinnati. The official version was that due to the physical problems he presented during the match, the “doctor recommended that he not go to the conference.”

The aforementioned newspaper has had access to a document, in which the new association presents its master lines. “The objective of the PTPA is not to replace the ATP, but to provide players with a self-governing structure that is independent from the ATP and responds directly to the needs and concerns of the player-members.“, they point out. The idea of ​​Djokovic, Pospisil and the rest of the players involved (not all revealed, only John Isner) is to hold a meeting this Saturday with all the players who are in New York to explain the project. Your idea is to post a photo that “reflects the agreement.”

For his part, Andrea Gaudenzi, president of the ATP, asked the players to reconsider in a letter in The Times: “You have what other athletes in other sports would strive for: a seat at the boardroom table. That's what the players fought for in creating the ATP Tour. It makes no sense, why would it serve him better if he changed his role from the inside to the outside of the government structure, “he said.

Rafa Nadal, through Twitter, entered the debate. Without quoting Djokovic, he recalled that it is time for “calm and joint work in the same direction”. “It is time for unity and not for separation,” he stated. “We have a big problem and separation and disunity is definitely not a solution.”