Doubles players urge ATP to rethink proposed cuts ahead of vote

More than 180 men’s doubles players, former players and national federations have signed an open letter urging the ATP Tour to rethink proposed cuts to doubles draws and prize money from 2028. The tour’s board is due to vote on the plans at next month’s ATP Finals in Turin.

The signatories include British world number one Henry Patten and former doubles champions Mike and Bob Bryan. The letter says the proposed reforms “go much too far” and calls on the ATP to grow tennis without leaving doubles players behind.

The ATP has proposed reducing doubles draws at its flagship Masters 1000 events to 16 teams and at smaller tournaments to eight. It could also halve the share of prize money allocated to doubles, from 20% to 10%, with the difference going to singles players.

Dutch player Sem Verbeek, one of the letter’s organisers, told BBC Sport: “These proposals would destroy careers, livelihoods and dreams.”

The letter was signed on Monday by 137 current players, 28 former players and 20 national federations. Its organisers hope the collective appeal will persuade the ATP to reconsider.

The ATP says the proposals are part of a wider review intended to strengthen the tour from 2028 and create a more sustainable long-term model. It says its plans draw on analysis of costs, revenue and viewership. The tour argues that large standalone doubles events put pressure on tournaments, particularly as fewer singles players enter doubles.

Some in tennis say doubles receives too large a share of prize money relative to its audience. Players opposing the cuts argue the ATP should instead do more to promote the format, which they say is widely played by club members.

There have been meetings between the two sides, including at the Shanghai Masters, and an ATP source told the BBC a compromise was likely. Patten has described the players’ position as an “uphill battle”, while saying he remained optimistic the tour would consider counter-proposals.

The Bryan brothers have said they would support players considering legal action. They led a lawsuit against the ATP in 2005 over proposed changes to doubles. Mike Bryan called the current proposals “anti-competitive”; that is the players’ position, not an ATP finding.