"I like what the ATP is doing" - Dominic Thiem on why he doesn't wish to join PTPA or any other association
World No. 3 Dominic Thiem is happy with the way things are being run on the ATP tour, and doesn't intend to join any other tennis organization - such as the Professional Tennis Players' Association floated by Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil back in August.
Thiem went on to confirm that he didn't pursue the opportunity to join the ATP Player Council this year, but that he may consider it in the future. Similar thoughts were later echoed by Germany's Alexander Zverev, who is also playing in the ongoing ATP Finals at London.
The upcoming ATP Player Council elections for the new term, starting January 2021, have become a major talking point among tennis players.
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic told the media on Wednesday that he and Vasek Pospisil had been nominated by the other players on the tour to re-join the Council. But Djokovic also revealed that the ATP Board has enacted a new rule which prevents a player from being part of the Council and any other tennis organization at the same time, which effectively rules him out from getting back.
Against that background, Dominic Thiem has now expressed his support for the ATP. The Austrian is content with being a part of the traditional organization, but he added that other players were free to join outside associations if they wanted.
"I like what the ATP is doing. Generally, they are doing a great job. I don’t see a reason to join another association. But, of course, everybody can do what they want," Dominic Thiem stated.
"At some point, I'd like to join the Player Council, but not right now," Dominic Thiem added. "It's just too early for me. I know myself and I know that, at times, I'm really motivated for things like this, but at other times, I'm not. You have to do a lot when you're on the Council. If I do that, then I want to be 100 percent involved."
Alexander Zverev also open to joining the ATP Player Council in the future
World No. 7 Alexander Zverev is not interested in joining the Player Council for now either, since he doesn't want to take on the role without being able to do full justice to it. But just like Dominic Thiem, Zverev is also keeping the option of joining the Council at a later time open.
Dominic Thiem is already through to the semifinals of the ATP Finals in London, where he will meet the winner of the Novak Djokovic- Alexander Zverev encounter on Saturday. Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev will clash in the other semifinal, in what is the last tournament of the season.