A Historic Show of Collective Force
Over 150 men's doubles players, including world number one Henry Patten of Great Britain and the legendary Bryan brothers, have signed an open letter urging the ATP to abandon what they are calling "drastic" proposals to the doubles format. The letter, which gathered signatures from 137 active players, 28 former professionals, and 20 national federations, was submitted this week ahead of a critical vote planned for next month's ATP Finals in Turin.
Dutch player Sem Verbeek, one of the key organizers behind the effort, told BBC Sport that the stakes could not be higher: the proposals, in his view, would "destroy careers, livelihoods and dreams." The letter itself frames the situation bluntly, warning that commercial considerations cannot come at the expense of fairness and player welfare.
What the ATP Is Proposing
The ATP's plans, which would take effect from 2028 as part of a broader tour review, include cutting doubles draws at Masters 1000 events from 32 to just 16 teams, with smaller tournaments reduced to eight teams. Perhaps most controversially, the share of prize money allocated to doubles could drop from 20 percent to just 10 percent, with the difference redirected toward singles players.
The governing body argues that its proposals are grounded in data covering costs, revenue, and fan viewership. Doubles advocates push back by pointing out that doubles is the format most recreational club players actually enjoy, making it more relatable to casual tennis audiences. The ATP board, which includes chairman Andrea Gaudenzi alongside tournament and player representatives, will vote on the reforms at the Turin finals.
TennisDraw bracket fans have been closely tracking which doubles pairings could be most affected if these structural changes ultimately go through.
