Novak Djokovic on Monday joined Rafael Nadal in blasting ATP executive suite for allowing a change to blue clay for the Madrid Masters without any consultation with players.
“The only disappointing thing from a player standpoint is that it was decided without players agreeing to it,” said holder Djokovic.
“Players should be agreeing to the change — there should be some value in what they say.
“I’m not blaming the tournament, it is fighting for its own interests. But the ATP should have done a better job on player rights in protecting what the players want.” Djokovic also threw down a veiled warning for the week: “The hope of all players is that we won’t have injuries and have a decent week of tennis.”
While world number three and ATP Player Council president Roger Federer is willing to give the situation a look after play is complete, Djokovic and especially home hero Nadal have come out firing, with the Spaniard doing most of the verbal heavy lifting on the issue.
“This is about history, the earth is red, not blue. Tennis is not only about show-business, there are more things to appreciate, history and tradition.
“Some symbolic things in the world should be preserved,” he said before his second-round start.
