LONDON — Doubles icons Bob and Mike Bryan say the ATP Tour ought to develop alternatives within the subject relatively than power by cuts they are saying will take away jobs from younger gamers.
The similar twins, who had been inducted into the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame final yr, accepted the ATP’s supply on Tuesday forward of their look within the Wimbledon invitational doubles match.
The lads’s tour desires to cut back doubles prize cash and match measurement beginning in 2028. The proposal would reduce the scale of the doubles subject in half whereas giving doubles gamers simply 10% of match prize cash as a substitute of 20%.
“If this invoice passes, it’ll crush the doubles goals of younger gamers and school gamers who wish to play doubles,” stated Bob Bryan. “The avenue to return out and earn a residing will probably be reduce off.
“From an financial standpoint, this tour appears to be like just like the healthiest it is ever been. They need to create extra alternatives for doubles gamers.”
Collectively, the 48-year-old brothers have gained 119 ATP titles, together with 16 Grand Slams, and an Olympic gold medal. On the induction ceremony in 2025, Martina Navratilova praised her brothers for not letting them overlook the sphere of doubles.
Two-time Grand Slam doubles champion Jamie Murray stated the tour underestimated the recognition of doubles.
Murray, the older brother of Andy Murray, stated: “The ATP hasn’t actually performed something through the years by way of advertising and marketing that aspect of the game.”
He added that enormous variations in prize cash might result in eliminations in doubles matches.
“If you happen to’re taking part in a 20-grand match and the subsequent day there is a 300-grand singles match, in fact you are going to work for it,” Murray stated. “They play till they turn into a nuisance after which they withdraw. That is comprehensible as a result of it is arrange that manner. I do not suppose it is proper. They might enhance it so much. The schedule for lots of doubles matches is unhealthy.”
Earlier, the ATP stated it was “evaluating the doubles product, draw measurement and participant compensation distribution with the purpose of constructing a extra sustainable long-term mannequin whereas sustaining doubles’ vital position on tour.” He added that adjustments to the doubles mannequin might probably enhance early-round singles prize cash.
The proposal doesn’t have an effect on Grand Slam tournaments. In 2023, Wimbledon will be part of different Grand Slam tournaments in shortening matches from 5 to a few units.
