Doubles players urge ATP to rethink proposed 2028 cuts

Doubles players have appealed to the ATP to reconsider proposed reductions to tournament fields and prize money from 2028. BBC Sport reported on Monday that an open letter had attracted signatures from 137 current players, 28 former greats and 20 national federations, with Henry Patten and the Bryan brothers among those backing the campaign.

According to the BBC, the proposals would leave Masters 1000 doubles events with 16 teams and smaller tournaments with eight. Doubles' share of prize money could drop from 20% to 10%, with the difference going to singles. Those changes remain proposals, rather than approved rules for the 2028 season.

The dispute forms part of a broader overhaul outlined by ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi earlier this month. Tennis Majors reported that his October 15 letter covered pay, rankings, scheduling and doubles, with further consultation and approval still required. The planned reforms therefore extend beyond the number of pairs admitted to individual tournaments and how their prize money is divided.

In its account of Gaudenzi's letter, Tennis Majors said any money redirected from doubles would stay within player compensation, supporting singles qualifying and early-round payments. The letter itself did not specify new doubles draw sizes or the amounts to be transferred. That distinction separates the ATP's published outline from the more detailed proposals described in the BBC's reporting on the players' opposition.

The wider financial plan projects annual player compensation of $350 million from 2028, excluding Grand Slams, Tennis Majors reported. It combines central funding, tournament prize money and profit-sharing. Proposed measures also include increasing the ATP Bonus Pool from $21.5 million to $50 million and allocating $25 million to year-end career support for players finishing inside the top 250.

Campaign organiser Sem Verbeek told BBC Sport that players' livelihoods and future careers were threatened. The ATP says its review seeks a sustainable model while retaining doubles' role. The BBC reported that the board would vote at next month's ATP Finals in Turin; ATP sources said a compromise was likely.