Doubles players push back against ATP plans to cut their draws and prize money
More than 150 men's doubles players have urged the ATP Tour, the body that runs the men's pro circuit, to rethink plans that would cut doubles sharply. Doubles is the two-player team version of tennis, and the plans would make far fewer teams eligible to play in each event.
Under the proposals, the number of teams in the main draw (the list of entries in a tournament) at Masters 1000 events would be halved to 16. These are the nine tournaments just below the four Grand Slams in the calendar. At smaller events, the ATP has proposed reducing doubles draws to eight teams, according to the BBC.
Money is at the centre of the dispute. The ATP proposal would cut the share of prize money given to doubles from 20% to 10%, with the difference moved to singles players. The changes would take effect from 2028.
The players responded with an open letter. It was signed by 137 current players, 28 legends of the sport and 20 national tennis federations. Among those opposing the cuts are British world number one Henry Patten and the American twins Mike and Bob Bryan, who have won more doubles titles than almost any pair in history. Dutch player Sem Verbeek helped write the letter.
The Bryans have been here before. In 2005 they led a group of players in a lawsuit against the ATP over earlier plans for big changes to doubles. For the current generation, Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash offer a more recent example of what doubles can deliver. The pair won Wimbledon in 2025 and became world number ones.
The ATP's push sits inside a wider plan. On October 15, ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi published an open letter setting out how the Tour wants to strengthen player income from 2028 onwards. Reuters reported that the plans target $350 million in player compensation and welfare by 2028. Under the proposals, the men's bonus pool would rise from $21.5 million to $50 million.
The final decision rests with the ATP board. It has eight members: Gaudenzi, four tournament representatives and four player representatives. The board will vote on the doubles proposals at the ATP Finals in Turin next month, the season-ending event for the top singles players.
For doubles players, the argument is simple. Fewer teams means fewer matches, fewer chances to earn ranking points, and less money for players further down the rankings. Those players often rely on doubles to make a living, because they are not in the top 100 in singles.
Supporters of the plan want to make the singles game more central and the money go further at the top. The vote in Turin will show which argument the board finds stronger.
