Joining his teammate Nick Kyrgios, Novak Djokovic has reiterated his call for a review of tennis players’ compensation, saying the current salary is wrong. This comes in the wake of Kyrgios’ recent comments regarding his proposed ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) season, which he described as too long and unfairly paid.
“This tour is nothing compared to any other sport,” the Australian star said, stressing the difficult journey players face due to what he said was inadequate funding. “It’s ridiculous when you think about the grueling journey and the salary we receive doesn’t reflect the effort we put in, which is a joke,” he added, highlighting the frustration of many players.
Djokovic, who has 24 Grand Slam titles and is competing this week at. The Brisbane International teaming up with Kyrgios in the double header backed up that sentiment. He pointed out the big difference in the distribution of money between tennis and other major sports.
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“In major sports like the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL, the distribution of money usually fluctuates around 50 percent or more, while our share in tennis is much lower,” Djokovic said after winning his singles with Gael Monfils, which earned him a spot. in the Quarter-finals in Brisbane secured.
He also spoke about the complexities of international tennis, where different countries have different rules, taxes and distribution of prize money. “Each race operates independently in terms of how they allocate their funds, which creates a fragmented system,” he said.
Despite the difficulties, Djokovic saw the establishment of the Professional Tennis Players Association, which he also founded in 2019, which promotes the rights of players. He said: “I know very well how the system works. Unfortunately, players often have no say in important decisions that affect us all.”
Djokovic has been open about the problems within the ATP, admitting that the players only represent 50 percent of the organization’s interests. “There are conflicts that happen between the tournament organizers and the players,” he said. “Even if we want an increase in wages, ATP may be reluctant to comply with these requests.”
He concluded by repeating Kyrgios’ point: If you look at the amount of money soccer players are paid compared to other international sports, it’s surprisingly lower than in the American game.
As the discussion on the issue grows, it remains to be seen how tennis’ governing bodies will respond to the outcry of their players.