Exclusive Q&A with Vasek Pospisil & PTPA Executive Director, Ahmad Nassar - Issue #38
Vasek Pospisil & PTPA Executive Director, Ahmad Nassar, spoke with us about the need for an independent player council that protects the interests of every player in the tennis ecosystem.
Written by Dove Sallow
This week, we’re taking a break from our usual newsletter topics to post about something that has been a widely discussed topic in tennis as of late. Certain players have called the PTPA (Professional Tennis Players Association) “divisive.” But the PTPA is formed of male and female players from all different walks of life, who are all at different stages in their tennis careers. They all say the same thing - the players need to have more of a voice in this sport. At the end of the day, it’s their livelihoods that are on the line. If they shouldn’t have more of a say in the sport that they dedicate their time, money, and effort to… then who should?
Vasek Pospisil (Co-Founder and ATP player with a career high ranking of #25 in singles and #4 in doubles) and Ahmad Nassar (PTPA Executive Director, CEO) were kind enough to take the time to answer some questions for us about the PTPA and their goals to make an impact for the good of all players.
Questions for Vasek Pospisil, PTPA Co-Founder; PTPA Executive Committee
Q1: As a player, what do you feel needs to change in the sport in order for players best interests to be protected?
A1: Players need a truly independent voice to fully represent our interests across the sport. We need professionals representing us without conflicts of interest that have a player-first mentality. The only way to achieve this is to have an independent player association which acts as its own organization separate from those that govern the tour and events.
Q2: The PTPA has been called "divisive" by some. Why is the PTPA not divisive?
A2: The PTPA was created to unite the players and ensure our voices are heard and interests represented effectively. It’s no secret that players have had the short end of the stick in the current structure for decades. When you look at the PTPA principles and generally what a player organization stands for, the argument that we are divisive doesn’t make any sense. We wrote an open letter on this topic - I’m confident that over time we will unify not only the players, but the entire tennis ecosystem.
Q3: The PTPA has previously stated that they are not trying to compete with any other organization or player councils, but rather an entity that aims to give players a voice. Why is it important for the players to have a voice outside of ATP and WTA?
A3: While it is true that the ATP and WTA have councils that represent players’ interests, it is within a fractured system - one that leaves the players nearly powerless within the structure with hardly any influence on decisions being made that affect their livelihoods. I’ve been on the council for several years and on the tour for 15, in my opinion, the existence of a player association is the only way players will ever be treated fairly in this sport.
Q4: As a player, what would you say are the biggest concerns you’ve heard from fellow players?
A4: Everything. Why is the schedule such a mess? Why are we getting such a small piece of the pie? Why isn’t tennis making more money overall? Why do we players have so little say and impact within the structure of our sport? The more years you spend on tour, the more you start to understand some of the complexities of tennis and the answers to these questions. We need a player association to help players navigate through this challenger sport and maximize our professional careers, as well as help with the transition to a life after tennis.
Q5: The PTPA is a unified player association made up of both men and women. On the subject of equality, what do you think can be done in order to achieve equal pay?
A5: It’s not a zero sum game - we think growing tennis globally can and should lead to long term, sustainable equal opportunities for men and women. There should be more than a few hundred players that make a living from this sport. We want more opportunities and fair revenue distribution for both the men and the women.
Q6: When the PTPA was first formed in 2020, the subjects of increased prize money and better transparency over revenue sharing were big concerns. Have things improved in regards to either of these aspects?
A6: There have been some recent changes. It is my strong belief that currently and in response to the creation of the PTPA, the governing bodies of our sport are making an attempt to convince players that they do not need a player association. That’s ironic, given that the creation of the PTPA ushered in these changes. We also need to ensure real change instead of smoke and mirrors; it’s the PTPA’s job to verify, audit and hold everyone accountable and continue to improve things going forward.
Questions for Ahmad Nassar, PTPA Executive Director; CEO, Winners Alliance
Q1: What does the PTPA think can be done to help the players outside of the top 200 in the rankings? These players are having a harder time making a living on the tour competing in lower tier events. Has the PTPA been able to voice these lower ranked players' concerns in meetings with the other organizations (ATP, WTA, ITF, tournaments)
A1: The PTPA firmly believes more athletes should be able to make a living in tennis outside the top players. And not because top players should be expected to divert their opportunities or money towards others. Tennis is a global sport and can absolutely support more professional players if organized and run optimally. The PTPA has begun to voice these concerns and find solutions to this problem, and we look forward to announcing some of those efforts shortly.
Q2: What does the PTPA hope to see accomplished by 2025?
A2: The PTPA hopes to be an institution within the tennis ecosystem, like players associations in other sports. We want to be around for decades and measure our success over longer timeframes. By 2025, we want to have carved our niche as the independent tennis player voice across the entire sport. We want to have a global staff and a self-sustaining business model in place so that we are around for decades. We want more players to have more opportunities across the board. We want a better drug testing system with due process rights for players. We want life on tour to be less burdensome, and to better support our players. Just because tennis is an individual sport doesn’t mean it has to be painfully isolating. We want to break through that and be a resource.
Q3: Phase 2 of ATP's plan hopes to combine commercial forces and media rights with Grand Slams, WTA, and ITF. Historically, these entities have not been known to work together frequently. Some critics have said this could be nearly impossible to achieve. Do you agree? What are the steps that you've seen implemented in moving towards this goal?
A3: I think it has been and will continue to be difficult. Interestingly, I also think the PTPA has a critical role to play in helping these entities do what is best for the sport over the long-run. Not just the players, but fans and commercial partners as well.
Q4: There's been a lot of talks about the ATP's 30 year plan that aims to grow the sport as well as increase prize money. Has the PTPA put a focus on working with WTA to come up with a similar plan for the women?
A4: The WTA has taken a different approach towards growth with their CVC investment. We aren’t here to say anyone is doing it right or wrong - we want all growth oriented options on the table and explored, with real results over the long-term.
If you’re interested in learning more about the PTPA, visit their website at the link below.
Follow Vasek Pospisil here.
Follow Ahmad Vassar here.
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