Players divided on whether ATP chief Kermode should stay

The ATP Tour’s annual presentation in Melbourne has exposed a divided men’s locker room surrounding the issue of equal player payments with the women’s tour.

Novak Djokovic, the ATP Tour players council president, caused another stir this week when he reportedly voted against extending the tenure of ATP chief executive Chris Kermode, a move that could set off dramatic changes in the tour’s direction.

Djokovic would not confirm his vote, citing the meeting’s confidentiality.

Unconfirmed reports claim the board voted 5-4 in favour of finding a new chief executive, pushing for the axing of long-time tour boss Kermode.

Speaking after his opening-round win over Australian James Duckworth, Rafael Nadal — who is not on the board of the players’ council — said he was not consulted about his thoughts on the situation.

“I don’t have to go. He’s (Djokovic) in the council or all the players are on the council, they have to come to me,” Nadal said.

“That’s why they are in the council and I am not in the council any more. When I was in the council, that was me — I have to go to the players and ask their opinions. It’s not my work any more.

“I suppose with a crucial decision like this someone from the council should come and ask me my position.”

Nadal believes Kermode is the right man for the job.

“By the way, if they want to read my opinion, I believe in the projects at long term, not short term, as everybody knows in my life,” he said.

“And, because of that, I believe that is not good to have changes all the time, because it is difficult to develop a good project of work if we have changes every three, four years. Is difficult.”

Grigor Dimitrov also voiced his support for the ATP boss.

“I think changing Chris Kermode would be one of the biggest mistakes,” he said. “Tennis is in such a good place.

“Everything has gone through so many good and positive changes. I wouldn’t do that, absolutely.”

The annual meeting also saw the issue of total ATP Tour player payments once again take centre stage.

Player council member Vasek Pospisil also campaigned for Kermode’s axing in the lead-up to the weekend’s meeting, citing the issue of player underpayment. “Grand slams report hundreds of millions of dollars in profit, yet we get less in prize money than 10 per cent of their revenue,” he wrote in an email sent to players ranked between 50 and 100. “Our system is broken — it’s time for a change.”

The men’s push for a greater share of the revenue generated across the Tour and grand slams is now heading in a disturbing direction, according to

New York Times tennis expert Ben Rothenberg.

He reported on the No Challenges

Remaining podcast that many male players are focusing only on the issue of men’s prize money — ignoring the issue of WTA Tour prize money.

Rothenberg said retiring champion Andy Murray and Roger Federer have been almost lone voices at the top of the men’s game advocating for the advancement of the WTA Tour.

“What does it say about Andy Murray that he’s seen as so unique? He’s their only one,” Rothenberg said of ATP players supporting the WTA Tour.

Djokovic said Kermode’s future will be decided following a further player vote in coming weeks.

When I was in the council, that was me — I have to go to the players and ask their opinions. It’s not my work any more. Rafael Nadal