Sports News

Doubles players push back on ATP plan to move $20m to singles

Leading men's doubles players have asked the ATP Tour to rethink plans that would shrink doubles events and move prize money to singles, the South China Morning Post and The Japan Times report. The letter to the ATP board was signed by 137 active players, 33 former players and 20 federations.

According to the Reuters report carried by The Star, the ATP is reviewing smaller doubles draws from 2028. At Masters 1000 events the field would fall from 32 teams to 16, with smaller fields at lower-level events. The money saved would go to singles qualifying and early-round prize money.

“The current plans would shift about $20 million in prize money from doubles to singles.” — the players' letter, via The Japan Times

The signatories said they understood the need for reform but warned the changes would remove many professional opportunities for doubles specialists. Dutch player Sem Verbeek said tennis “is more than a business.” The ATP said doubles will remain a core part of the tour and that talks with its Player Advisory Council will continue.

How each outlet framed it

• South China Morning Post — the players' fear that the plans would “gut” the doubles game.
• The Japan Times — the money: $20 million moving from one format to the other.
• The Star (Reuters) — the detail of the draw cuts and the ATP's response.

What we don't know yet: whether anything will change before the ATP's year-end meetings in Turin next month, where the plans are expected to be discussed.