Wimbledon men's doubles champions Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool have threatened legal action against proposed ATP changes that would halve doubles draw sizes by 2028, warning the plans would make it nearly impossible for players to earn a living solely through doubles.
Champions Respond to Proposed Cuts
Cash and Glasspool, who became the first all-British pair since 1936 to win the Wimbledon men's doubles title last year, are back at the All England Club defending their crown. They advanced to the second round with a swift 6-3 6-0 victory over Mariano Navone and Adolfo Daniel Vallejo in just 51 minutes.
However, their success comes amid uncertainty as the ATP considers reducing doubles fields: from 32 to 16 pairs at Masters 1000 events, and from 16 to eight at ATP 500 and 250 tournaments. The prize money split between singles and doubles would also shift from the current 80:20 to 90:10.
Players Unite Against Changes
Glasspool criticised the approach, saying: 'Their way to tackle it is to just get rid of all doubles players and have singles guys play doubles, which I don’t think is the right decision.'
Cash confirmed the pair are prepared to join other doubles players in legal action. 'It’s something that all the doubles players are united on. We hope it doesn’t go as far as legal action but if it has to then I know that we’re all on board to do so,' he said.
World No.1 Calls Plans 'Elitist'
Doubles world No.1 Henry Patten, also British, labelled the decision 'odd' and said it would 'make the sport more elitist'. He revealed that even ATP Council members Andrea Vavassori and Marcelo Arévalo were unaware of the plans, stating: 'It makes dialogue extremely difficult when those decisions and discussions are happening behind closed doors in the ATP. There’s a lot of uncertainty right now about whether it’s going to be viable to be a professional doubles player after 2028.'
Patten added: 'It’s odd to me that at a time when the ATP is doing well financially, they’re choosing to cut the jobs of tennis players and make the sport more elitist. I never dreamed of doing this and I wish every kid who plays tennis has the opportunity to compete at Wimbledon or the US Open. With these changes the number of kids that are able to achieve those things is going to be really diminished.'
ATP Responds
In a brief statement, the ATP said: 'Any potential changes will be developed through close consultation with players, tournaments and the ATP Board with any decisions made in the best long-term interests of the sport and its consumers.'
