Pospisil blasts Kyrgios over merger
MUMBAI Canada’s Vasek Pospisil has hit back at Nick Kyrgios for opposing the proposal to merge the men’s ATP and women’s WTA tennis tours, saying the Australian didn’t have enough information to comment on the matter.
Roger Federer called for a merger between the two governing bodies last month, with both ATP Tour chairman Andrea Gaudenzi and his WTA counterpart Steve Simon welcoming the suggestion.
Rafa Nadal, the other member of the so-called “Big 3” alongside Federer and Novak Djokovic, also voiced his support, as did many other past and present players.
However, outspoken Australian Nick Kyrgios was not enthused.
“Did anyone ask the majority of the ATP what they think about merging with the WTA and how it is good for us?” the world No. 40 wrote on social media, before adding “we shouldn’t merge.”
World No. 93 Pospisil, who sits on the ATP Players Council, termed Kyrgios’ comments as ill-informed.
“You know what, it’s because a lot of players express, or people in general, will express an opinion without having any information, just because they feel like they want to say something,” Pospisil, of Vancouver, told TSN In Depth.
“That might be the case with Nick.
“To be honest, he’s in no position to express an opinion when he just hears about this for the first time and has done zero due diligence. There are some guys like that, and I’ll have no problem telling him that to his face.”
As many as seven associations govern different parts of tennis. Besides the ATP and the WTA Tours, the sport is also controlled by the International Tennis Federation and the boards of the four
Grand Slam tournaments.
They all joined forces in recent weeks to raise more than US$6 million for a relief fund that will target about 800 singles and doubles players collectively on the men’s and women’s tours who are in need of financial support during the COVID-19 shutdown.
Djokovic, who heads the ATP Players Council, of which Federer and Nadal are also members, issued a rallying cry to his fellow professionals to contribute to the fund.
Pospisil said the “Big 3” were all very strong individuals but they have worked “really well” together.
“I have been really impressed with Novak, how much he cares for all the players,” Pospisil said.