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More than 150 active men’s doubles players, alongside former champions and national federations, have signed an open letter urging the ATP to halt controversial reforms that would drastically reduce doubles tournaments and shift prize money to singles. The proposals, under review for the 2028 season, include halving doubles draws at Masters 1000 events to 16 teams and cutting total doubles prize money from 20% to 10%.
The coalition argues these changes threaten the viability of professional doubles careers. They estimate the shift would redirect approximately $20 million (£15 million) in prize money away from doubles specialists, making it significantly harder for players to sustain a living solely through doubles competition. Sem Verbeek, the 2025 Wimbledon mixed doubles champion and a campaign leader, stated the plans jeopardize not only current livelihoods but also future pathways for young athletes.
While the ATP views doubles as an unsustainable "loss leader" and seeks to rebalance finances toward singles qualifying and early-round payouts, players emphasize the need for collaboration rather than unilateral decisions. The signatories acknowledge the necessity of reform but insist on preserving the sport's structural integrity.
Key points of contention include:
The ATP has yet to address specific player requests with concrete data, leading to frustration among the doubles community who feel excluded from the decision-making process.