“Tennis will survive after the retirement of Nadal, Federer and Djokovic”

The president of the ATP Andrea Gaudenzi, granted an interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport in which he reviewed the current world of tennis and how it has been damaged by the coronavirus pandemic.

Gaudenzi said that the tournaments that have been held after the break have suffered losses because they were unable to accommodate the public or have a very small capacity in their stands. “We are still studying the damages of the pandemic. All the tournaments played after the break have suffered losses. The Grand Slam and Masters 1,000 have managed to resist, but the problem is and will be the ATP 250. The only good thing the pandemic has brought is that we have brought the souls of tennis together and worked in synergy with the WTA and ITF. We have different rules and organizational complexities and we have to overcome them. “

The Italian leader also assured that, from March, they hope to recover the usual scoring system in the ATP ranking after the classification reform this year due to the pandemic. “From March we would like to recover the classic ranking and count only the results of the season as long as a large number of tournaments can be played.”

Gaudenzi also took the opportunity to send a message to Novak Djokovic after announcing the creation of his own tennis association, the PTPA, in parallel with the ATP. “We have three great players on the ATP board and no decision can be made against their interests. We are open to discussion and possible suggestions, but the division is leading nowhere. “

The ATP president downplays the hypothetical withdrawal from the circuit of Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic and trusts that their gap will be filled, as has already happened with other tennis players. “Tennis will survive maintaining its strength after the withdrawal of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic. I started playing with Sampras and Agassi and it was said that after them there would be a void. The 1000 Masters in Rome or Wimbledon will continue to maintain their greatness regardless of the protagonists. “.

Gaudenzi also surrendered to the figure of Jannik Sinner, one of the Italian tennis players with the most projection on the circuit. “He is very talented and very solid. He will go far. We are waiting for him at the ATP Finals in Turin, of course. For him and other very strong Italian tennis players.”