A search for a new head of the ATP Tour will get underway later this year after Chris Kermode failed to generate enough support to continue his tenure at a meeting on Thursday in Indian Wells.
Kermode, who has been the head of the governing body of men’s tennis since 2014, failed to win support from all three players representatives on the ATP board during a vote on his future. Meaning that he has to leave his position later this year. Kermode has guided the ATP during a successful period that has included increases in prize money for players, a growing global audience and the creation of the Next Gen finals. His latest project is the ATP Cup. A team tournament that will launch at the start of 2020 in Australia.
“It’s been a privilege to serve as ATP Executive Chairman & President since 2014 and I’m very proud of what we have achieved during this time. I would like to thank everyone at the ATP, and all the players and tournaments for the support over the years. I remain fully dedicated to the role for the remainder of my term and wish the organisation every success in the future.” Kermode said in a statement.
TV executive David Egdes, lawyer Alex Inglot and former tennis player Justin Gimelstob compromise of the three players’ representatives. Gimelstob’s involvement is controversial as he is currently in the middle of a criminal investigation into an allegation of assault on a former friend. A change he has pleaded not guilty of.
The removal of the 54-year-old comes amid an argument over his impact among players. Two days prior to the decision, the ATP player council held a lengthy meeting that resulted in them recommending that Kermode is removed. World No.1 Novak Djokovic is the head of the player’s council. It was claimed during the Australian Open that the Serbian was leading a campaign for new leadership. Although Djokovic is keeping coy about how he voted.
“I don’t want to express myself as for or against, I’m part of the council, I’m president of the council and I have responsibility, and confidentiality, that I have to be responsible to,” Djokovic said during a press conference in Indian Wells dominated by the subject.
“By sharing that information I expose myself, and I become liable to breach of confidentiality within that structure. So I’m not willing to risk that, because I respect the governing structure.”
Fellow council member Vasek Pospisil has been far more vocal in his criticism of Kermode. Earlier this year the Canadian wrote a letter in which he calls for ‘a CEO that first and foremost represents OUR interests.’ Voicing anger of the distribution of revenue to players from grand slams and describing the system as ‘broken.’
Despite his diplomatic response to the situation, 17-time grand slam champion Djokovic believes that change is needed. Particularly when it comes to the structure of the organisation.
“The structure is such that it’s I personally feel a bit flawed,” he said. “You kind have to put always the role of the president as a tiebreaker in many voting circumstances. You have three votes of the player board representatives, three votes of the tournaments and most of the cases, there’s a conflict of interest. It’s a difficult position to be in as a president because you have to kind of at times choose between the two. So I feel that’s something we as a group have to address.
“I feel like it’s time for us to make some changes to protect the president, release him from pressure and also have some independent input on things. I feel like it’s important for a very traditional sport that we are, that has a lot of potential in the world for sport, and business and marketing, and we can learn a lot from other sports.”
Nadal heads the Pro-Kermode contingent
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Whilst many players have accepted that are issues on the ATP Tour, Kermode continues to have the backing of some key figures. Making his future departure a more complexed issue. Rafael Nadal warned that the removal of Kermode could have a counterproductive impact on the sport. Calling the tennis official a ‘good guy.’
“I believe in long-term projects,” Nadal told reporters earlier this week. “I am not a very big fan of changing things very often. I really think there’s a lot of things to do – we need to sign a contract for the World Tour Finals, and there’s a new ATP Cup.
“When you change, you go through a process. A new president needs time to know all the things and create a team, so in my opinion changing the president will stop the process of improving our sport.”
Nadal is not alone in his support. Former world No.2 Magnus Norman has described the development as a ‘sad day.’ Norman is the coach of Stan Wawrinka, who wrote a letter of support for Kermode earlier this year.
2002 Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson replied to Norman’s tweet by saying ‘some players have no idea how lucky they have been to have Chris Kermode as their CEO and leader of our sport.’
Former ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov is another supporter. In January the Bulgarian said the men’s game is in the best position it has ever been and ‘Changing Chris Kermode would be one of the biggest mistakes.’
Roger Federer, who like Nadal isn’t a member of the player’s council, had remained silent on the subject. Although Djokovic admitted that he hasn’t talked with him about the issue yet.
No timeline has been given concerning the selection process for a new ATP CEO.