Rafael Nadal said his belief that too many tournaments are played on hard courts hasn’t changed with his success on the surface this year he’s simply given up trying to change the system.
Nadal said on Tuesday at the Shanghai Masters, he still believes too many tournaments are on hard courts, but he’s done trying to influence ATP policymakers.
“I am really out of politics, and I don’t want to be involved in politics of tennis anymore. I know even if you have strong ideas and even if you believe the changes are possible, I know there is always a wall there that is impossible to go over,” he said.
“I say because it’s something that I think it is going to be fair for the next generations if they are able to play (on) an easier surface for the body, to try to have a longer career, to try to be more healthy when they finish (their) careers,” he said, adding that he probably won’t be lucky enough to have that.
Djokovic said later he shares Nadal’s frustrations with the slow pace of change at the top of the sport.
“It’s been over five years that we all have been trying in different ways to effect some things regarding the schedule, tournaments, different formats,” he said. “But the system is rooted inside. It’s very difficult to change.
“I understand why Rafa is saying that he has had enough of it because at the end of the day you can’t do everything alone. It’s much deeper than that.”
Nadal and Andy Murray have been the most outspoken critics of tour conditions in recent years, with Murray even floating the idea of a player strike two years ago if tour organisers didn’t take their complaints seriously.
Nadal then criticised Roger Federer on the eve of last year’s Australian Open for allowing other players to lead the charge to make changes to the tour while he stayed above the fray to maintain his good reputation.
Now it appears Nadal is done with the fight, as well.
“What I am saying I am saying because it’s something that I feel,” he said. “If somebody from the ATP asks me, I will say the same things. But as always happened, nothing gonna change.”
