​Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool, who clinched their first Grand Slam title together at last year’s Wimbledon, have voiced anger at the ATP Tour’s proposed cuts they fear would “take their jobs away.” The pair spoke after a Wimbledon meeting on Tuesday where the ATP floated changes that could reduce doubles draws by half from 2028. They joined a group of leading doubles players in accusing the men’s tour of trying to “end doubles as a viable profession.”
“It’s frustrating that we have to deal with or even think about things like this during Wimbledon,” Glasspool said. “I’m not sure what they’re hoping to achieve.”
The proposals would limit ATP 1000 events to only 16 doubles teams and eight teams at smaller tournaments, while the doubles share of prize money could fall from 20% to 10%, with the funds redistributed to singles players. Critics warn the current scale of doubles events strains tournament facilities, and former world No. 1 Neal Skupski summed up the concern: “We understand where we are in the sport, but I don’t think we should be devalued. Some people don’t appreciate how much effort we put in day in, day out. It’s not like we just turn up to tournaments, have a giggle, and move on.”
At the first Masters 1000 of the year in Indian Wells, Jannik Sinner earned $1.151 million for the singles title, while doubles champions Guido Andreozzi and Manuel Guinard took home $234,000 each. The players argue that these changes would leave doubles players outside the world’s top 30 with little future in the sport. The ATP outlined the plans in a players’ meeting at the All England Club, with Italy’s Andrea Vavassori and El Salvador’s Marcelo Arevalo representing the doubles players.
“It is just a proposal, of course,” Arevalo said. “But it should be a time to give more opportunities to tennis players rather than taking them away.” An ATP spokesperson stated: “We are assessing the doubles product, draw sizes and player compensation distribution with the aim of creating a more sustainable long-term model while maintaining doubles’ important role on the tour.”
What do the players want? Many in the sport feel a 20% share for doubles is out of step with the event’s overall appeal. As reigning Australian Open champion Skupski notes, doubles events on the ATP Tour rarely draw packed stadiums. Singles clearly remain the main draw for fans, whether attending live or watching remotely. Nevertheless, the doubles players believe the governing body should do more to promote their discipline and attract greater interest, arguing that doubles deserve better support and exposure.