Known for its traditions and customs, a championship as old as Wimbledon, established in 1877, has seen a lot happen on its prestigious grass courts. Enriched with history and legend, the grass court championship is Mecca for tennis players and fans alike. One such instance is the infamous ATP Boycott that happened at the 1973 Wimbledon Championships.
In 1973, something that had never happened before in the history of tennis itself transpired. 81 players, all of whom were the best players at the time, boycotted the championship and didn’t participate in it. A player, Nikki Pilic, from then-Yugosalavia, was banned from participating in any sort of tennis championship by International Lawn Tennis Federation. He was banned because he was unable to represent his country in the Davis Cup due to a conflict in his schedule.
On this July 8, 1973
🇨🇿 Jan Kodes defeats 🇷🇺Alex #Metreveli in @Wimbledon final. 81 of the top ATP players boycotted this edition in protest against the suspension of Nikola Pilic by the Yugoslav Tennis Association #Wimbledon #Wimbledon2019 pic.twitter.com/hZmSQTKxUc
— TennisMyLife (@TennisMyLife68) July 8, 2019
At the same time, the Association of Tennis Players (ATP) had formed, which was not under the control of any nation anymore. Unfortunately, ATP had not established itself as a significant power by then. It was figuring out ways to protect other players from facing the same fate as Nikki Pilic.
To show support for Pilic, ATP decided not to let anyone play in the championship. Hence, 81 players, including legendary players like Rod Laver, Stan Smith, and John Newcombe, among others. This was the first time something of this significance had happened in the world of tennis. The world had not seen players stand up for each other and miss out on a tournament as prestigious as Wimbledon before. And thus history was made.
Significance of the ATP Boycott today
This was not the first time a player was banned from playing tournaments by powers and authorities. Back then players often found themselves in vulnerable positions simply because they didn’t have the power to advocate for themselves. The ATP Boycott developed a sense of belonging and partnership among the players.
The ILTF undertook a number of adjustments to address the complaints after the strike. The changes improved the lines of communication between players and the organizations that control them, gave players a voice, and guaranteed that disciplinary actions would be handled fairly.
Today the players receive respect and world-class treatment, and have a voice to advocate for themselves. They are no longer left in a vulnerable position, this is all ensured because of the boycott. The sacrifice made by the players at that time still has a level of significance in tennis no that other moment has.
Because of the lasting legacy of cooperation it left behind, the Pilic ban continues to be a crucial moment in tennis history. The need of standing up for what is right and the power of collective action were underlined. The tragedy served as a catalyst for change. It motivated players and governing bodies to work together to develop a sport that is more player-centric and progressive.