Players unite to oppose ATP doubles tour cuts and prize money reduction

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Over 150 tennis players and 20 national federations have jointly opposed the ATP's plan to halve doubles tournament sizes and reduce doubles prize money from 20% to 10% starting in 2028. The decision, expected within four weeks, could significantly impact the development of doubles competition and the sport's future balance between singles and doubles events.

More than 150 current and former tennis players, along with several national tennis federations, have issued a joint appeal urging the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) to reverse plans to reduce the size of doubles tournaments and cut prize money allocated to doubles events.

The open letter, made public Monday afternoon, opposes the ATP’s proposal to decrease prize money for doubles from 20 percent to 10 percent of total tournament purses, reallocating approximately $20 million to singles competition. The proposed changes, slated for implementation in 2028, also call for halving the size of doubles draws—for instance, reducing Masters 1000 event fields from 32 to 16 teams. Challenger-level doubles would also be affected, raising concerns about the development pathway for emerging players.

Signatories to the letter include prominent British Wimbledon doubles champions Henry Patten and Julian Cash, as well as former singles and doubles player Pat Cash. The appeal emphasizes the potential negative impact on professional opportunities, warning that such drastic cuts could undermine confidence in the ATP’s leadership within the broader tennis community. It calls for preserving meaningful doubles competition and balancing commercial interests with the sport’s legacy.

“We are going to fight to protect the legacy and future of our sport, no matter what it takes,” said Julian Cash, the 2025 Wimbledon doubles champion. The letter characterizes doubles as an essential and distinctive part of tennis history and identity that deserves greater visibility rather than diminished status.

In addition to players, the letter is endorsed by 20 national tennis federations, including those from the Czech Republic, Germany, and Kazakhstan—countries that have produced Grand Slam singles champions in recent years. However, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), Britain’s governing body, along with federations tied to other Grand Slam nations such as Tennis Australia, the French Tennis Federation, and the United States Tennis Association, have not signed the letter.

The ATP has previously defended its review of doubles and singles events on commercial grounds, citing declining fan engagement with doubles play and pointing to stronger ticket sales and broadcast ratings for singles matches.

While a player strike has not been reported as under consideration, the ATP is expected to make a final decision on the proposals within the next four weeks. The outcome will have significant implications for the future structure of professional men’s tennis and the preservation of doubles as a vibrant component of the sport.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.