Do talk to us about USTA's general stance on BLM (or get someone to talk to us about it) but we would appreciate candor over corporate-speak. But former British doubles No. He is Spanish. Also, making things even more awkward, is the exclusion of any type of presence from the women's side of tennis. I am sensitive to job loss and automation. Around 60 players posed for a photo posted on social media, with Djokovic writing: "After yesterday's successful meeting, we are excited to announce the beginning of the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA). The first player only association in tennis since 1972. That point was raised by Andy Murray as he explained why he is not currently opting in. ‘You have what other athletes in other sports would strive for – a seat at the boardroom table,’ Gaudenzi wrote in a letter to the wider player body. The Western & Southern Open crown extended Djokovic’s record this year to 23-0 and made him the first man to win each Masters 1000 event at least twice. Imagine this fact pattern as it might pertain to a public company. Onward and let’s start with politics….if you’re not interested, skip down: Have a question or comment for Jon? We have a bigger problem and separation and disunion is definitely not the solution. Guys, especially in 2020, read the room. "The first player only association in tennis since 1972. Mats Wilander criticism of Andy Murray 'unfair', says brother Jamie, Chris Evert 'absolutely' disagrees with Mats Wilander over Andy Murray wildcard attack, All Brits out of the French Open in the first round after Heather Watson defeat. The PTPA, backed by Novak Djokovic, aims “to solicit support from players to form an association with a mandate to promote, protect and represent the interests of its players ... and protect the future of tennis.”   -  Getty Images. If not, they are a group text paying dues. https://t.co/foAmiLVrdV. The first players to sign up for the PTPA met on Saturday at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre in New York, where the US Open begins on Monday. There was talk earlier this year, prompted largely by tweets from 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer, about the possibility of merging the men’s and women’s tours. Of course, no news online from any tennis media. The e-mail asks players to sign a letter backing the PTPA, and says “if a significant number of players support this initiative we will move forward” with writing bylaws and proposing a board of trustees. I truly understand that, you know, some of them have different opinions and they don't think the time is right. From what I have been told, the players enjoy playing in Cincinnati. But we shortchange the sport when we do not strive for maximum accuracy. “Also, the fact that the women aren’t part of it, I feel like that would send a significantly — well, just a much more powerful message personally if the WTA were on board with it. So many of us in Cincinnati were hoping they would move the Open here instead of moving this week’s event to New York. 1 Johanna Konta, with an aim to collectively lobby the Slams for more money but, for the time being at least, the group is made up of only male players. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, both of whom sit on the ATP Player Council, registered their opposition to the PTPA on social media Saturday and urged a more unified sport. Former British doubles No. These are uncertain and challenging times, but I believe it’s critical for us to stand united as players, and as a sport, to pave the best way forward.’ The face-time is lacking. 1 player Sarah Borwell labeled Novak Djokovic's PTPA an 'ego driven' idea. It was founded by players who had previously been members of the Association of Tennis Professionals Players Council. On Saturday night, the pair launched a breakaway group, separate from the Association of Tennis Professionals, designed to represent the interests of men’s pro tennis players. We are not forming parallel tours. After todayâ s successful meeting, we are excited to announce the beginning of the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA). 4. (“Oh, you’re in the Eastern Conference of the Playoffs? Even paying $61,000 to first-round losers, the labor is only fifteen or so percent as a line-item. One early supporter was Raonic, Saturday's Western & Southern Open runner-up and a 2016 Wimbledon finalist. Could there have been a better timing for this? One day Bob and another board member—deeply embattled at the time for other reasons—acts to remove the CEO. He lost both of his parents in the past two years, including his father—before winning the Davis Cup for his country last winter. "The goal of the PTPA is not to replace the ATP but to provide players with a self-governance structure that is independent from the ATP and is directly responsive to player-members’ needs and concerns,” the email said. "Players have had plenty of time to think and reflect and take a look at certain parts which they may not be happy with and discuss,” Raonic said Friday after reaching the Western & Southern Open final. #PTPA pic.twitter.com/070TRKZ4xG. (Yes, he would be within his rights to reply, “Um, you do know there’s a pandemic.”) The communication isn’t there. Their tweets followed a joint statement from the four Grand Slams, International Tennis Federation and both the men’s and women’s tours. The decision to form without women was the mother of unforced errors—even if you believe the claims that women will be phased in.