Novak Djokovic is a kind of athlete who constantly fights for the betterment of his fellow athletes. He not only makes his presence important inside the court but also off the court. Djokovic co-founded the PTPA organization with Vasek Pospisil.
PTPA has been a landmark achievement for the players as it voices out their troubles. Djokovic spoke about the need for players to make decisions in the game.
The Serbian mentioned that player’s interests have always taken a backseat in the sport. Djokovic went on to talk about the need for PTPA to bring in the players’ interests in the game. He said, “Players get the shorter end of the stick 90 plus percent of the time. Why? Just because the system is structured and founded in such a way.” Djokovic said that over the years, he learned the process of decision-making.
The current structure of tennis does not allow players to truly participate in the decision making process. @DjokerNole explains why this is and why the PTPA needs to exist to combat this reality. pic.twitter.com/La5ZcrztL7
— Professional Tennis Players Association (@ptpaplayers) October 15, 2023
The world No.1 was part of the ATP Player Council for almost seven years before resigning from the post. He stepped down with the formation of PTPA in 2020. Since then, Djokovic has been rallying with the players and ATP to bring changes in the game. He has been inactive on the courts for over a month but has been actively involved with the PTPA in its initiatives.
Paris Masters set to welcome Novak Djokovic back on tour
Novak Djokovic last played a competitive match at the Davis Cup in September. He is currently on a 13-match winning streak, which started in August. The 36-year-old will return to tour to play the final Masters 1000 of this season at Paris. The Paris Masters will begin at the end of October and will be wrapped within the first week of November.
The 24-time grand slam champion did not play at the Shanghai Masters. Djokovic has a 500-point lead over Carlos Alcaraz in terms of rankings. The Spaniard is scheduled to play in the Swiss Indoors Basel, which will begin next week. Alcaraz can take over the top spot if he wins the title at Basel. Meanwhile, Djokovic can extend his lead at the Paris Masters, where he is a six-time champion.
Tick-tock. 🕰️#RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/WuwTlxC0As
— ROLEX PARIS MASTERS (@RolexPMasters) October 8, 2023
Fans will have to wait for two more weeks to see Djokovic back on the courts. The four-time US Open champion is chasing a seventh title in Paris and at the Nitto ATP finals. Djokovic is also trying to end the year as No.1 for a record-extending eighth time. There will be plenty of records for him to defend once he resumes his winning streak on tour.