Rafael Nadal Resigned From ATP Player Council Earlier This Month

Rafael Nadal resigned from the ATP Player Council shortly before the start of the Sony Ericsson Open last week, sources said. Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have been on the Council (Federer is president) for several years now, and underscore a degree of top player involvement in a sport that is rare. Djokovic, Nadal and Federer currently are the top-seeded men's players. Nadal has been frustrated that his two signature initiatives were rebuffed. He supported Richard Krajicek last summer to be the next ATP leader, but was rebuffed by Federer and tournament officials when Brad Drewett was elected instead. Nadal also wanted to move to a two-year ranking system from one, but that was also opposed by Federer and tournaments. Nadal's agent, Carlos Costa, could not immediately be reached for comment. The Player Council represented the various ATP player interests, and elects three members of the seven-person ATP Tour board. The tournaments also elect three members, and the CEO, Drewett, is the seventh vote.