Novak Djokovic demands ‘better treatment’ to reignite row with ATP

The Serbian is playing at the ATP Finals in London, where he suffered a shock loss to Daniil Medvedev on Wednesday

Djokovic insists he is fighting for ‘better treatment’  (Getty)

Novak Djokovic has added fuel to the fire in his ongoing row with the ATP over the newly-founded Professional Tennis Players' Association.

Djokovic and Canadian Vasek Pospisil took a stance in August when they left the ATP Player Council, which saw them recruit other players in New York to form the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA).

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were among those who criticised the Serbian for his move, with his two rivals still current members of the Council.

It was therefore a shock when the names for potential candidates ahead of the new council elections in January was released, with both Djokovic and Pospisil recorded.

READ MORE: Daniil Medvedev stuns Novak Djokovic in blistering performance at ATP Finals

The world number one revealed he and Pospisil had both been nominated by other players rather than putting their names forward, and he said: "I do not see any conflict of any kind in being part of the PTPA and the ATP Player Council.

"I have not seen it back in August when the PTPA was founded. I don't see it now. So that is why I accepted the nomination as well as Vasek, because we just feel that there is a responsibility when you are nominated, and it means that you have trust and credibility from a lot of players."

Djokovic is upset with the ATP (Getty)

But Djokovic revealed the ATP has brought in a new rule effectively prohibiting their participation in both bodies.

He said: "We of course made ourselves available but then the rule by ATP board was voted on last night, which basically doesn't allow any active player to be part of the council and any other organisation in the tennis ecosystem, which is disappointing, to be honest, because I have not been approached by anybody from ATP on that matter.

"I was saying before and I'm going to say it again: We want to collaborate with ATP, and we want to be able to potentially have a place in the ecosystem, because this is what players deserve.

"Now, with this rule that has been voted on last night, that actually is a strong message from ATP that they don't want PTPA at all in the system. So it's very clear.

"We are just trying to fight for a better position and better treatment out there in the ecosystem, and that's all there is. It's unfortunate really to see that the ATP's position is such, but OK, now we know where we stand.

"So then we obviously have to consider other strategic positions and we have to consider our next move in a different way. We'll see what happens."

PA

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