When players were told during Wimbledon that the ATP was reviewing its doubles regulations, Sem Verbeek became one of the architects of their response. Verbeek, a Dutch player who won the mixed doubles title at Wimbledon in 2025, helped rally a doubles community now asking the tour to reconsider its plans.
More than 150 men’s doubles players have signed an open letter to the ATP board and management. More than 20 national federations have also backed it.
The letter’s signatories include 137 current players, 28 legends and representatives from 20 national federations. They are opposing proposals revealed in July that would reduce Masters 1000 doubles draws to 16 teams, while ATP 500 and 250 events would have eight teams.
Under the plans, the share of total prize money allocated to doubles could fall from 20% to 10%, with the remainder directed to singles players. The players say this would move about $20m (£15m) from doubles to singles and remove a significant number of professional opportunities for doubles specialists.
“These proposals would destroy careers, livelihoods and dreams,” Verbeek told the BBC. “We're at risk of losing a discipline of tennis which is historic - but has a big future.”
Henry Patten, the British world number one and reigning Wimbledon champion, has signed the letter. Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash won Wimbledon in 2025 and became world number ones.
Mike and Bob Bryan, identical twins considered the greatest doubles pair of all-time, have also signed. In 2005, the brothers led players in a lawsuit against the ATP over planned radical changes to doubles.
The ATP announced widespread reforms to its calendar, schedule and rule book this month. Its management views doubles as an unsustainable loss leader.
Andrea Gaudenzi, the ATP chief executive, wrote: “Doubles will continue to be a core part of the ATP Tour”. He added: “The review is focused on identifying a model that gives the discipline a sustainable long-term future, works effectively for tournaments and fans and supports the wider player pathway”.
There have been several meetings between players and the ATP, including recently at the Shanghai Masters. The tour’s board, chaired by Gaudenzi and made up of four tournament representatives and four player representatives, is due to vote on the plans at next month’s ATP Finals in Turin.
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