Overview
- The ATP has proposed shrinking doubles draws by roughly half and reducing doubles' share of tournament prize money from about 20% to near 10% as part of a product review intended for possible 2028 implementation.
- Top doubles players have organized a public pushback, with a collective statement and veterans such as Bob and Mike Bryan warning the changes would block pathways for young and college players to earn a living in doubles.
- ATP officials say the proposals are under assessment and that any final decision will follow further player consultation and formal board approval, and that Grand Slam doubles formats would not be affected.
- Critics point to long-standing problems that limit doubles' appeal, including a large prize-money gap versus singles and poor scheduling that leads players to prioritize singles and sometimes withdraw from doubles matches.
- Observers and coaches have proposed alternatives such as on-court rule tweaks, better scheduling, and stronger marketing to grow doubles without cutting entries or pay, and the debate now centers on whether the ATP will pursue those experiments instead.