'Cutting doubles would destroy careers' – angry players urge ATP rethink

More than 150 doubles players – including Wimbledon champions and tennis legends – urge the ATP to rethink "drastic" cuts which they believe could kill the format. Finland's Harri Heliovaara (left) and Britain's Henry Patten – the world number ones and reigning Wimbledon champions – have signed the open letter More than 150 men's doubles players – including British world number one Henry Patten and the legendary Bryan brothers – have urged the ATP Tour to rethink "drastic" changes which they believe could kill the format. In a show of collective action, the players have written an open letter to the men's governing body as they fight proposals which would cut draw sizes and reduce prize money from 2028.

"We're at risk of losing a discipline of tennis which is historic – but has a big future," Dutch player Sem Verbeek, one of the architects of the letter, told BBC Sport. The ATP proposed halving the doubles draws at its flagship Masters 1000 events to 16 teams, with smaller tournaments reduced to eight teams. The percentage of prize money devoted to doubles could fall from 20% to 10% – with the difference redistributed to singles players. 'You're taking our jobs' – doubles players angry at proposed cuts On Monday, a group of 137 current players, 28 legends and 20 national