DJOKOVIC: I’M NOT PLANNING A STRIKE OVER PRIZE MONEY
NOVAK DJOKOVIC denies he is planning to lead a players’ strike over prize money.
The former world No.1 wants to set up a union with the aim of increasing the cash available to players at tournaments.
Djokovic admitted that officials from the men’s ATP tour and the Australian Open were asked to leave the room when he addressed the world’s top 100 players last week, but insisted there has been no talk of a potential boycott of the first Grand Slam of the year in 2019. After beating American Donald Young in straight sets 6-1 6-2 6-4 in his first official match since retiring during his Wimbledon quarterfinal against Tomas Berdych last year with elbow problems, he said: “We just wanted to talk about certain topics. I don’t think there is anything unhealthy about that. A hundred players get together two or three times in a whole year.
“We wanted to use this opportunity to speak about certain subjects and see how everyone reacts to that, and I guess see what opinions are. There were no decisions made. There were no talks about a boycott or anything.” Djokovic faces Gael Monfils next.
Heather Watson was unable to join British compatriots Johanna Konta (above) and Kyle Edmund in the second round, losing a tight contest to Yulia Putintseva 7-5 7-6.