Nadal and Federer at odds with Djokovic over ATP chief's axing

The decision to force Chris Kermode out of his role as ATP chief has seemingly pit Novak Djokovic against long-time rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

Kermode will leave his position as ATP executive chairman and president at the end of 2019, ending a tenure which brought record prize money but also growing complaints from lower-ranked players about their pay and travel schedules.

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Kermode’s contract was scheduled to expire at the end of the season and some players, including 17-times grand slam champion Rafa Nadal, believed the 54-year-old Brit should have continued in the job.

But some members of the ATP Player Council, including President and World No.1 Djokovic, had said they wanted to see change.

In January, Aussie tennis coach and pundit Darren Cahill said he’d be ‘stunned’ if Kermode was removed.

But that’s exactly what’s happened.

The Players Council met privately for over six hours on Tuesday at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells to discuss Kermode’s future, and players’ representatives on the ATP Board failed to endorse Kermode at a meeting on Thursday.

“It’s been a privilege to serve as ATP executive chairman and president since 2014 and I’m very proud of what we have achieved during this time,” Kermode said in the statement.

“I would like to thank everyone at the ATP, and all the players and tournaments for the support over the years. I remain fully dedicated to the role for the remainder of my term and wish the organisation every success in the future.”

Djokovic said on Thursday that while Kermode had been successful in growing the game the Council had decided it was time for a change.

“It was decided in our governing structure, such as it is, that it is time for us to look into new leadership on the tour. That’s all there is,” the Serb told reporters, adding that he would not reveal how he voted due to a confidentiality clause.

Nadal opposed to Kermode’s axing

Speaking on Wednesday, Nadal said he wanted Kermode to continue in his role.

“I believe in long-term projects,” Nadal said.

“I am not a very big fan of changing things very often.

“I really think there’s a lot of things to do – we need to sign a contract for the World Tour Finals, and there’s a new ATP Cup.

“When you change, you go through a process. A new president needs time to know all the things and create a team, so in my opinion, changing the president will stop the process of improving our sport. I personally believe Chris did a good job.

“He is a good guy, who did good things for our sport and it would be good if he stays for a while more.”

Stan Wawrinka also hit out at the push to axe Kermode, sending a strongly-worded email to his fellow players at the Australian Open.

Federer fails to support Player Council

Federer was reluctant to speak about the issue publicly, but previously said he wanted to talk to the Player Council before they made a decision.

“I don’t think it matters what I say right now because it won’t change the outcome and this is politics, this is tennis right now,” he said.

“They’re going through those motions and I don’t need to get involved, especially not in front of this group (of journalists) right now.”

Lower-ranked players will be happy

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 No. 355, have complained they cannot get into tournaments under new ATP and ITF rules.

“It’s tough. Playing some of the best tennis of my life right now and at 350 I can’t get into any challengers,” he wrote on Twitter, referring to the ATP Challenger Tour, which is a step below the ATP World Tour.

“At this point in my career is it worth it to play futures? Or am I just taking away opportunities from other players who are just starting out?” he said, referring to the entry-level International Tennis Federation’s Futures tournaments.

Fellow Player Council member Vasek Pospisil, currently ranked 114, has also argued for change, wanting increases in prize money for lower-ranked players at grand slams.

“Grand slams which report hundreds of millions of dollars in profit … yet we get less in prize money than 10 per cent of their revenue,” he wrote in an email sent to players ranked between 50-100 at the Australian Open in January.

“Our system is broken … it’s time for a change.”

Kermode axing sends shockwaves through tennis world

with agencies