ANDY MURRAY INSISTS that the cream of the world’s tennis talent are willing to go on strike if that’s what it takes to get the authorities’ attention.
In an interview with BBC Sport, the Scot underlined the players’ argument that their current calendar is overcrowded with tournaments, leading to tiredness and injury in many cases.
Under the current rules of the men’s tour, players must compete in at least 12 ranking events each year in addition to the four Grand Slam tournaments.
The world’s top pros are due to sit down during next month’s Shanghai Masters to discuss their options ahead of a meeting with the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and International Tennis Federation (ITF).
But if officials resist their requests for what Murray described as “really small” changes, next year’s tennis season could be thrown into disarray.
“I know from speaking to some players they’re not afraid of doing that [striking],” Murray said.
If we come up with a list of things we want changed — and everyone is in agreement but they don’t happen — then we need to have some say in what goes on in our sport. At the moment we don’t.
