Players have too little influence on the governance of tennis, German star Alexander Zverev said on Saturday as he explained his decision not to seek another term on the ATP players' council. "When we try to get involved in politics, we don't really have much say," said the world number three in Melbourne, where the first major of the season begins on Sunday.
Players have too little influence on the governance of tennis, German star Alexander Zverev said on Saturday as he explained his decision not to seek another term on the ATP players' council.
"When we try to get involved in politics, we don't really have much say," said the world number three in Melbourne, where the first major of the season begins on Sunday.
"I feel that there is a lot of talk and a lot of time is invested, but nothing actually changes," the 28-year-old added, citing a lack of progress as one of the reasons why he stepped down from the body.
Zverev, who is seeking his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, was elected by fellow players to a two-year term on the ATP Player Advisory Council in 2024.
One of his main themes was the ever-growing touring calendar, which is extending the tennis season to become almost year-round. Many players have warned of the rising injury toll due to a lack of rest.
He also focused on the distribution of prize money at ATP tournaments.
But Zverev said he has the impression that the various organizing bodies in tennis "don't really get along very well," complaining that it proved difficult to bring them together for discussions about the future of tennis.
Tennis is governed by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in partnership with the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for men, the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the organizers of the Grand Slam tournaments.
Category: General Sports
