**Doubles Players Express Outrage Over Proposed ATP Cuts**
Doubles players on the ATP Tour have voiced their frustration regarding recent proposals to reduce the size of tournament draws and prize money allocated to doubles events. British player Julian Cash has been particularly vocal, accusing the ATP of undermining a vital segment of the sport.
Discussions this week indicated that the ATP is considering halving the doubles draws at ATP 1000 events from 32 to 16 pairs, while smaller tournaments could see participation limited to just eight pairs. Alongside this reduction in draw sizes, there are suggestions that prize money for doubles could decrease from 20% to 10% of the total purse, with singles players expected to benefit from the reallocation.
Cash, who won the Wimbledon doubles title last year alongside partner Lloyd Glasspool, expressed his disappointment, stating, “We’re all members of the ATP, we all pay membership, and the reason it was set up was to protect players. It’s not to try and kill parts of the sport.”
Glasspool echoed Cash’s sentiments, highlighting the timing of the discussions during Wimbledon as “annoying.” He urged the ATP to take more proactive steps in promoting doubles, questioning the rationale behind the proposed changes. “They say it is a product issue, but when singles players—who are known and have been marketed—step on the doubles court, it is a packed crowd. So it’s not a product issue, is it? If you know the players, then you will watch them in singles or doubles,” he remarked.
Doubles tennis has historically received less attention compared to singles, particularly outside of Grand Slam events and the Olympic Games. While some top singles players occasionally participate in doubles, such as the Williams sisters, who have won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, the trend has seen a decline in commitment from many leading singles competitors.
In response to the backlash from the doubles community, the ATP issued a statement indicating that they are currently evaluating the doubles product, draw sizes, and player compensation distribution. Their goal, they stated, is to establish a more sustainable long-term model while ensuring that doubles maintains its significant role on the tour.
The disparity in prize money between singles and doubles is stark, with the men’s and women’s doubles champions at this year’s Wimbledon set to receive £760,000 ($1 million) per pair, compared to the £3.6 million awarded to singles champions. Neal Skupski, a former world number one in doubles, expressed his concern over the potential devaluation of the doubles game, stating, “We understand where we are in the sport, but I don’t think we should be devalued. It’s not like we just turn up to tournaments, have a giggle and go on to the next tournament.”
Australian player Alex de Minaur, who reached the singles fourth round at Wimbledon, acknowledged the challenges faced by doubles players but noted that decisions regarding tournament structures often come down to financial considerations. “I know a lot of these players; they train, they put in the hours, they do all the training that any other player does. It’s obviously not nice to see, but it all comes down to probably numbers. I’m assuming that if these decisions have been made, it’s for a reason,” he said.
The proposed changes have sparked a heated debate within the tennis community, with many doubles players advocating for a more equitable treatment in terms of prize money and visibility. As discussions continue, the future of doubles on the ATP Tour remains uncertain, with players hoping for a resolution that recognizes their contributions to the sport.