"Their way to tackle it is to just get rid of all doubles players" - British duo threaten legal action after proposed changes met with concern

ATP doubles could be set for a very radical and vastly unpopular change in the near future. Threats of cutting down draw sizes and offering less prize money has been met with concerned murmurs with British duo Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash thinking about legal action.

The proposed changes were announced by representatives from the ATP Player Council on Tuesday, a day before the doubles tournament commenced at Wimbledon. Glasspool and Cash are the defending champions following a famous triumph on home soil, helping them end the year as the world number one.

They were among the names who found out this news. The ATP plan to cut the Masters 1000 doubles field from 32 to 16 pairs and the 500 and 250 events from 16 to eight. This is part of a wider structural review as they look at future-proofing the ATP Tour.

Adding to that, prize money would also get slashed for the players. Currently having an 80:20 split between singles and doubles, this is set to alter in the way of the singles players with a 90:10 ratio put on the table.

As expected, the players did not take too kindly to this. “Their way to tackle it is to just get rid of all doubles players and have singles guys play doubles, which I don't think is the right decision,” Glasspool stated.

Cash also had his say on the situation: “It’s something that all the doubles players are united on. We hope it doesn't go as far as legal action but if it has to then I know that we're all on board to do so.”

Another Brit by the name of Henry Patten is another big speaker on this topic. The current world number one, he won the 2025 ATP Finals title as well as Wimbledon in 2024 alongside Finnish partner Harri Heliovaara.

He unveiled that no communication had taken place between the players and organisers. “It's very difficult because all of those decisions have taken place behind closed doors, even the ATP Council members - [Andrea] Vavassori and [Marcelo] Arévalo - were unaware of these plans,” he said.

“It makes dialogue extremely difficult when those decisions and discussions are happening behind closed doors in the ATP. There's a lot of uncertainty right now about whether it’s going to be viable to be a professional doubles player after 2028.

“It's odd to me that at a time when the ATP is doing well financially, they're choosing to cut the jobs of tennis players and make the sport more elitist. I never dreamed of doing this and I wish every kid who plays tennis has the opportunity to compete at Wimbledon or the US Open. With these changes the number of kids that are able to achieve those things is going to be really diminished.”

The ATP released a statement commenting on how these changes would benefit singles players. “Any potential changes will be developed through close consultation with players, tournaments and the ATP Board with any decisions made in the best long-term interests of the sport and its consumers.”