Tennis Players Oppose Proposed ATP Doubles Reforms
Over 150 athletes and 20 federations are challenging plans to reduce doubles prize money and draw sizes.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Tennis
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More than 150 professional tennis players have signed an open letter to the ATP board protesting proposed reforms to the doubles circuit. The changes threaten to diminish the long-term viability of professional doubles careers.
Why it matters
The ATP aims to reallocate approximately $20 million from doubles to singles players, viewing current doubles programming as an unsustainable loss leader. Players argue these cuts will make it significantly harder for athletes to maintain a specialized doubles career.
The proposed reforms include reducing doubles prize money from 20% to 10% of the total pool. Additionally, the proposal would cut draws to 16 teams at ATP Masters 1000 events and 8 teams at ATP 500 and 250 tournaments.
The players
ATP
The Association of Tennis Professionals serves as the primary governing body for men's professional tennis, managing the global tour calendar and associated regulations.
ATP Board
The board oversees strategic decision-making and administrative changes for the men's professional tennis tour.
The details
The ATP announced the proposed changes to the tour calendar and rulebook in October 2026, building upon an initial review process that began at Wimbledon in July 2026. The shift seeks to move funding away from doubles events to prioritize singles tennis.
Timeline
Players were first informed of the ATP doubles review in July 2026.
The ATP announced the proposed reforms to the tour calendar and rulebook in October 2026.
The ATP intends to implement the reduced doubles draw sizes in 2028.
Season Trajectory
This protest reflects a major tension in the professional tennis ecosystem regarding the financial balance between singles and doubles formats. The outcome of this dispute will influence the future competitive structure of the tour and the livelihood of specialized doubles athletes.
The proposed reduction in draw sizes would directly limit the number of participants at top-tier events, potentially narrowing the professional path for specialists. Fans and followers of the sport should expect fewer opportunities to watch doubles matches at future Masters 1000, 500, and 250 tournaments.
The takeaway
The conflict highlights the growing friction between legacy doubles formats and modern efforts to consolidate tour revenue. Players hoping to sustain careers in doubles will need to monitor how the ATP balances its financial restructuring with the retention of these events.
Further reading
For more on the current landscape of the professional tour, visit the Tennis section.
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Should professional sports leagues be required to protect established team formats when considering league reforms?
