DJOKOVIC PLAYS DOWN PAY FIGHT TALK
MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic hosed down suggestions he is pushing to create an independent players union to fight for even more prize money, and denied reports it could lead to tournament boycotts. British media said the Serbian 12-time Grand Slam winner, president of the ATP Tour player council, had raised the subject at a mandatory player meeting in Melbourne on Friday. The London Times said he took the stage and suddenly asked that ATP officials and any nonplayers leave the room, bringing in an Australian professor with specialist knowledge of workplace law. According to Britain’s Telegraph newspaper, Djokovic then outlined his argument that the Grand Slams only pay out about seven percent of their income. It said he compared this to American basketball, which pays about 50 percent. The ATP refused to comment.