John McEnroe picks sides as Nadal and Federer refuse to back Djokovic | Tennis | Sport

John McEnroe has backed Novak Djokovic for his attempts to set up the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) in spite of opposition to the plan from fellow tennis icons Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Djokovic recently stated that he has now stepped back from the organisation he co-founded with Vasek Pospisil in September 2020. The PTPA was formed as a breakaway union to try and fight for the rights of lower-ranked players.

It even launched legal action against the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tours last year. The Djokovic-founded organisation claimed the leading tennis bodies were “anti-competitive practices” and had “a blatant disregard for player welfare.” The ATP and WTA firmly rejected all the accusations. Federer and Nadal were two of the leading voices in opposition to Djokovic’s creation, but McEnroe believes that Djokovic’s latest decision validates the lack of unity in the tennis world, insinuating that the Serbian’s union was required.

“Tennis is too fragmented,” McEnroe said. “Even PTPA was fragmented from the start, because there is already ATP. It’s a problem about 45 years old.

“Even when I was 20 years old, we were trying to improve the position of the players, to secure better deals with the Grand Slam tournaments and to be equal participants, even partners. However, in my opinion, the players have never been treated fairly, which is why the ATP was founded in the first place.”

The American admitted that Djokovic’s withdrawal caught him off guard. “It came practically out of nowhere,” he added. “I’m not even sure if it’s a union or an association – and the difference between the two terms is huge and leads to a whole other political debate about the actual impact.

“I don’t know exactly which players are involved, or whether it is possible to be a member of ATP and PTPA at the same time. All this additionally shows that the players are not at the table in the way they should be, because they are too divided.

“This is another example of how the whole situation seems to have caught Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer off guard. I don’t know what will happen next. I remember talking to Novak about all this before, as well as to the PTPA president at the time, but I haven’t heard anything since then. That was a few years ago.”

When the PTPA was announced, Nadal was quick to voice his opinion. “Just because they created this organisation doesn’t mean they help tennis more than other players who believe in the usual structure,” he said.

“If we have experienced positive situations, it is thanks to the involvement of Roger, myself, but also Novak and Andy [Murray], because we have always been concerned with asking others what they need.

“If we compare the earnings of five, six, seven or eight years ago to today, it is clear that we have significantly reduced the gap between the lowest ranked and the best players. We know that we have to continue working on this, but we do not consider that another organisation is necessary.”

Federer then posted to social media: “I agree @RafaelNadal. These are uncertain and challenging times, but I believe it’s critical for us to stand united as players, and as a sport, to pave the best way forward.”

Writing online about his decision to leave the PTPA, Djokovic said: “After careful consideration, I have decided to step away completely from the Professional Tennis Players Association.

“This decision comes after ongoing concerns regarding transparency, governance, and the way my voice and image have been represented. I am proud of the vision that Vasek and I shared when founding the PTPA, giving players a stronger, independent voice – but it has become clear that my values and approach are no longer aligned with the current direction of the organisation.

“I will continue to focus on my tennis, my family and contributing to the sport in ways that reflect my principles and integrity. I wish the players and those involved the best as they move forward, but for me, this chapter is now closed.”