World No.2 Rafael Nadal has reiterated his opposition to a new players association co-founded by rival Novak Djokovic.
The 19-time Grand Slam champion says there are ‘unanswered questions’ about the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) that was launched in the lead up to the US Open. The association, which was founded by Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil, aims to campaign for players to have more power when it comes to decision making after branding the current structure of the ATP as ‘flawed.’ Matteo Berrettini, Diego Schwartzman, Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime are some of the names to have already joined.
Although the PTPA has come under fire from some with the ATP Players Council issuing a letter to their peers advising them to not join. Djokovic was the president of the council until launching the association last month. Meanwhile, both Nadal and Roger Federer are members.
“I understand the dissatisfaction of some athletes who signed the proposal, but there are many unanswered questions,” Nadal told reporters at the Rome Masters.
“I think it’s not the right moment. And even if we weren’t in the current situation, many things are not clear.”
The 34-year-old argues that the Tour should be united and not follow what he labels as ‘own interests.’ Both Djokovic and Pospisil have previously said that the new initiative have not been created to rival the ATP but has admitted that strike action in the future is a possibility.
“There are a number of things that are not right. We are going through a world crisis in every aspect,” Nadal said.
“It’s a difficult time for all of us, for players, for the organisers, for the whole tour. We should stick together, and not pursue each of us our own interests.”
Pospisil had previously spoken out about his hopes of getting Nadal to sign on with the PTPA because he is ‘very aware of some of the struggles the players have had.’ The Canadian said during the US Open that he would like to hold a meeting with the Spaniard to speak about the topic but it is unclear as to if this has happened yet.
“I think of Roger and Rafa I believe Rafa probably will be more likely to be the first one to support it,” he said. “If that ever happens. But of course I like to think it will, because this is all just for the interests of the player and he’s still, he’s a player. I don’t know what he plans to do after he retires, but I think that he’s very aware of some of the struggles the players have had in the last 20 years. I know he’s been vocal about it in the past, so I don’t see why we couldn’t have constructive conversations with him and see how it goes.”
Besides the off-court politics, Nadal’s immediate focus is this week on the Italian Open in what will be his first competitive tournament since winning the Mexican Open on March 1st. He will be the top seed in Rome and is bidding to win a record 10th title. Nadal has won the past two editions of the event.
“[My] expectation is to always go on court and try to feel competitive. That’s the first goal. Go on court, feel [that I’m] competitive, and then I will see how I feel and what kind of goals I can look for,” he explains.
Nadal will start his campaign against Pablo Carreno Busta who recently reached the second round of the US Open.
