Djokovic refused to say whether he had been for or against Kermode's exitgetty images
ATP Player Council President Novak Djokovic said that he wants "significant changes in the structure of the tour leadership" in the wake of the news that ATP President & Exec Chair Chris Kermode will depart at the end of the year, according to Kamakshi Tandon of TENNIS.com. The ATP BOD "did not vote in favor of an extension for Kermode." The ATP board "consists of seven members: three player representatives elected by the player council, three tournament representatives, and the CEO." It is rumored that Djokovic was "among the players on the council who was against a renewal," but Djokovic "refused to say whether he had been for or against the move." Djokovic said that there has been "no decision about who will fill the position." He said, "It's going to take time, and we have plenty of quality candidates to choose from." Djokovic suggested that the sport "should shift from the traditional way it is organized." Djokovic said, "You kind have to put always the role of the president as a tiebreaker in many voting circumstances. You have three votes of the player board representatives, three votes of the tournaments and most of the cases, there's a conflict of interest." Among the apparent goals of the changes is to "increase the share of player prize money, but Djokovic insisted he was not working for his own interests" (TENNIS.com, 3/7).
PLAYERS' CHOICE? ESPN.com's Alyssa Roenigk noted it was a "weighty concern for the players who believed it was time for a change." They simply "didn't believe Kermode was putting their needs above the needs of the tournaments." After the announcement, Rafael Nadal "echoed his own comments from earlier this year, saying he believed Kermode should stay." However, Roger Federer, who served as Player Council President from '08-14, was "less forthcoming than Nadal." Although the player council vote "was not the final word, it served as a guide for the ATP's three tournament and three player representatives, who voted on Kermode's future on Thursday." In the end, though, the player council's collective voice "was heard" (ESPN.com, 3/7).
WHO'S UP NEXT? REUTERS' Rory Carroll noted Kermode's tenure brought "record prize money but also growing complaints from lower-ranked players about their pay and travel schedules." While prize money is at an "all-time high and attendance and viewership of the ATP Tour has soared, players like 24-year-old American Jared Hiltzik, the world number 355, have complained they cannot get into tournaments under new ATP and ITF rules." Possible replacements for Kermode "include 42-year-old American Justin Gimelstob, an ATP board member," and Anne Worcester, a former WTA CEO (REUTERS, 3/7).
