Melzer dismisses Djokovic’s accusation

The reasons behind Novak Djokovic’s failure to re-join the ATP Player Council were put in perspective by the Austrian Jurgen Melzer who completely dismisses the reason’s Djokovic has given for the Councils actions.

These statutes have been around since 2006. And it’s also logical: if you have two associations, it is clear that you cannot be part of both, that’s common sense Jurgen Melzer

Firstly Melzer says that Djokovic’s excuse for reapplying was at the instigation of fellow players who nominating him to re-apply having resigned from that body at the US Open to set up, with Vasek Pospisil, Sam Querrey and John Isner, a new representative player organisation, namely the Professional Tennis Player Association (PTPA).

Djokovic also maintains that the ATP Council had changed the rules at a board meeting during the ATP Finals, to prevent him from re-applying.

He said at the time: “The rule by ATP board was voted on last night, which basically doesn’t allow any active player to be part of the council and any other organisation. That is disappointing, to be honest.”

Now Melzer has dismissed Djokovic’s implication that the rule was only just adopted.

“We were a tight-knit group and tried to manage the whole thing well with the ATP management and the board members,” Melzer said.

He then pointed out: “The PTPA is a completely different matter. Djokovic is talking about the fact that some regulation has now been made, overnight, that nobody from the PTPA is allowed to participate in the council. This is utter nonsense.

“These statutes have been around since 2006. And it’s also logical: if you have two associations, it is clear that you cannot be part of both, that’s common sense.

“I am surprised that Djokovic is so surprised now. And that he thinks that it [was specifically] developed against him overnight.”