Leading men’s professional tennis doubles players have formally called on the ATP Tour to abandon restructuring plans that would strip away prize money and slash tournament draw sizes. A coalition of 137 active players, 33 former players, and 20 national federations delivered a joint letter to the ATP board and management voicing deep opposition to the proposed reforms.
Proposed Prize Money and Draw Reductions
The dispute centers on ATP initiatives slated for 2028 and beyond. Under review are potential changes that would downsize doubles draws at elite ATP Masters 1000 events from 32 teams to 16, with smaller fields also planned for tournaments below that tier. According to the players’ letter, the current framework would siphon approximately $20 million away from the doubles format and reallocate it toward singles qualifying and early-round singles prize money.
The current plans would shift about $20 million in prize money from doubles to singles, while cutting a significant number of professional opportunities for doubles specialists,
the letter stated. That shift would make it much harder for talented players to build and and sustain a doubles career. A healthy professional sport cannot rely solely on a small group of top stars; it needs pathways for players to develop, compete and earn a living.
Broader Compensation Packages and Governing Body Stance
The controversial doubles adjustments are part of a broader ATP package introduced earlier this month aimed at expanding total player compensation to $350 million starting in 2028. That overarching plan includes reshaping the calendar and rankings alongside a proposal to increase the player bonus pool from $21.5 million to $50 million.
While singles play commands vastly more attention outside of the Olympic Games and Grand Slam tournaments, doubles remains widely popular at the club level. Yet, few top-tier singles competitors regularly enter the discipline.
In response to the mounting pushback, the governing body of men’s tennis maintained that doubles will remain a core pillar of the tour. The ATP stated that its ongoing reviews aim to establish a sustainable long-term model, adding that discussions with the Player Advisory Council are ongoing.
Player Reaction and Next Institutional Steps
Individual competitors have taken public platforms to criticize the reduction of professional real estate. Dutch doubles world No. 60 Sem Verbeek argued on X that the tour must protect all its constituents rather than treating competition purely as a corporate enterprise.
Tennis is more than a business,
Verbeek wrote. It’s a legacy built on joy, health and sportsmanship. A sport built on those values should open doors, not close them.
Reuters reported that it has contacted the ATP for further comment regarding the letter. With player dissatisfaction mounting, the ATP is scheduled to address tour structure and strategy during its upcoming year-end meetings in Turin next month.
