ATP Rejects Possible Player Boycott of Australian Open

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ATP Rejects Possible Player Boycott of Australian Open

By Erik Gudris

(August 27, 2012) -- Despite speculation raised last week that many ATP players were considering a boycott of next year's Australian Open over the issue of prize money, the ATP itself rejected the possibility of that happening.

“The ATP has been clear and repetitive in telling players that it will not organize a boycott,” said Kate Gordon, an ATP representative. “Instead, ATP management and players have taken a diplomatic approach this year with the Grand Slams to address player compensation issues. The Grand Slams are important events that generate significant revenues, and the players who perform there should share in an acceptable percentage of those revenues like they do on the ATP World Tour."

Craig Tiley, Tournament Director for the the Australian Open, agreed with the main issue many players have over the low amounts paid to early round losers at the Majors.

"We are the first to say that for tennis to be a viable career, the top 250 players need to make a good living,” Tiley told AAP. “The top 250 players in tennis make about a quarter of the amount of money in tennis as they do in golf."

Tiley said that he had been in touch with Roger Federer and other players to discuss the issue. Last year, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open all raised the percentage of overall prize money including for early round losers.

“Our relationship with the playing group is very, very strong,” Tiley said. “We’re very confident that whatever needs to be resolved will be.”

(Photo Credit: ATP World Tour)