“It Does Not Make Sense”: Dominic Thiem’s Manager Opens up on Novak Djokovic’s New Players Association

A new controversy might be brewing up as several players in the ATP players council are looking to create a new players association. The move is being led by World No.1 Novak Djokovic who has support from Canadian Vasek Pospisil and American John Isner.

Pospisil gave his resignation yesterday saying that there isn’t much influence on ATP from the player council. The new association will be called Professional Tennis Players Association and Djokovic and Pospisil will be co-presidents of the association.

“It’s not quite understandable” – Herwig Straka on Novak Djokovic’s new players association

On this issue of the split, Dominic Thiem’s manager Herwig Strata has a different take. He’s Not convinced with the decision and questioned the authority and power the new association will have.

“We are convinced that it does not make sense to do something like this, because the players in the ATP are so represented by the structure as in no other sport any athlete. If you’re employed by a team, you can strike and form a union, but you have no other rights. At ATP, the players are 50 percent part of the organization, they contribute 50 percent to all decisions, so it’s not quite understandable.” Straka said in an interview DerStandard.

Straka finds the creation of the new association bizarre because the player’s makeup 50% of ATP and have a 50 percent influence on the decisions, so creating a new player’s body isn’t something that encourages him.

“I was in contact with Dominic yesterday and we talked about the situation. That’s his decision. I just told him in a very neutral way that I wouldn’t understand if you gave up such a good position.” Straka said

Read More: “It Is Very Difficult”: Vasek Pospisil Resigns From ATP Players Council Citing Displeasure With the Structure

“We are currently working on a plan for the future, which ironically makes the players even better than they already are.” he added

Interesting development within men’s tennis. Clearly, some players aren’t happy with the current structure in place at the ATP. So let’s see how things shape up and how many players join Djokovic and co in the new player’s body.