From Rublev to Bergs: ATP confirms Player Advisory Council for 2026

The ATP has officially confirmed the composition of its Player Advisory Council for the 2026 season, a body that plays a key role in representing players’ interests and shaping decisions within the men’s tour. The announcement, made on Thursday, outlines both newly elected members and returning representatives who will serve three-year terms running from 2026 through 2028.

Among the new faces joining the Council are Marcelo Arevalo, Zizou Bergs, Nuno Borges and Zhang Zhizhen, all of whom were elected by their peers to represent different ranking categories. Each of the new members will now take part in discussions that directly influence policies affecting scheduling, conditions, prize money, and player welfare.

Mackenzie McDonald was re-elected for a second consecutive term, maintaining continuity within the Council. The American will be joined by Camilo Ugo Carabelli, Pedro Martinez, Jaume Munar, Andrey Rublev and Andrea Vavassori, all of whom will remain on the Council for the 2026 season. Together, the group represents a wide spectrum of the ATP Tour, from top-ranked singles players to doubles specialists and consistent tour-level competitors.

In addition to the player representatives, the ATP confirmed that Federico Ricci – currently coaching Emil Ruusuvuori, will continue in his role as the coach representative, while former wordld No. 74 Nicolas Pereira was re-elected as the alumni representative.

The ATP Player Advisory Council is elected directly by players, with each representative chosen by peers within their specific ranking category. Players ranked 1–50 in singles, 51–100 in singles, 1–25 in doubles, and 1–50 in doubles vote for candidates from their own group, while at-large representatives are elected by all Group 1 members. This structure is designed to ensure fair representation across the tour and prevent decision-making from being dominated by a single segment of players.

Once elected, the Council meets several times throughout the year to discuss key issues affecting the ATP Tour. These meetings serve as a platform for players to raise concerns, propose changes, and provide feedback on existing policies. While the Council itself does not make final decisions, it plays a crucial advisory role by making formal recommendations to ATP Management and the ATP Board of Directors.

Those recommendations are delivered through the Player Board representatives, who are elected by the Council itself. This system allows players to have a structured and ongoing voice within the ATP’s governance framework, rather than relying solely on informal feedback or individual advocacy. Over the years, the Council has contributed to discussions on tournament formats, calendar adjustments, player services, and broader strategic planning.

The first meeting of the 2026 Council is scheduled to take place in Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open, marking the beginning of its new term. With a mix of returning members and newly elected representatives, the Council enters the 2026 season positioned to reflect both continuity and change.