The two tennis legends seem to be at loggerheads with the current world number one over the sport's future. Reports suggest that Djokovic is looking to form a breakaway, spearheading a new organization away from the ATP.
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Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer were on a collision course with Novak Djokovic on Saturday, calling for "unity, not separation" after reports that the Serbian was planning a breakaway union of professional tennis players.
The New York Times claimed that Djokovic, who is the current world number one, will resign from the presidency of the ATP players' council in order to spearhead a new organization — the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA).
The PTPA believes it is better-placed to defend the interests of the world's top 500 players who have been badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic, particularly through a loss of earnings.
Notions of a breakaway led by Djokovic first began in 2018 when the Serbian led a drive to depose the ATP executive chairman and president, Chris Kermode, after five years in the role. Djokovic wanted a new players' union, accusing tournament owners of a conflict of interest as they controlled the schedule as well as the prize money.
A potential rebellion gathered pace earlier this year when Djokovic became a key proponent of greater financial support for the lower ranked players who were suffering financially due to the pandemic, though the notion received short shrift from world number three Dominic Thiem, who questioned the viability of such a proposal.
Pull together
On Saturday, world number two Nadal pleaded with Djokovic to reconsider the idea of creating a new organization away from the established ATP.
"The world is living a difficult and complicated situation. I personally believe these are times to be calm and work all of us together in the same direction. It is time for unity, not for separation," said the 19-time grand slam winner.
"These are moments where big things can be achieved as long as the world of tennis is united. We all, players, tournaments and governing bodies have to work together. We have a bigger problem and separation and disunion is definitely not the solution," the Spanish player said.
Federer, a 20-time grand slam winner, quickly added his voice in backing Nadal's viewpoint.
"I agree @RafaelNadal," Federer tweeted. "These are uncertain and challenging times, but I believe it's critical for us to stand united as players, and as a sport, to pave the best way forward."
Player conflict
British player Dan Evans joined the chorus of disapproval of the timing of the announcement. He said: "I've received the emails on the player union. I think now is horrible timing to be talking about that sort of thing. For what it's worth, I think the ATP do a great job for us and I won't be signing the sheet of paper they want."
In apparent show of support for Djokovic and the breakaway, Canadian player Vasek Pospisil announced Friday that he was quitting the ATP's players' council.
"It has become evident that as a member of the players' council within the current structure of ATP, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to have any influence whatsoever on any major decision on the circuit," he wrote.
Djokovic wins Cincinnati Masters
Djokovic is currently in New York where he beat Milos Raonic to seal the ATP Western & Southern Open title ahead of next week's US Open, where he is the overwhelming favorite to win.
Defending US Open champion Nadal is sitting this tournament out after opting not to travel to New York for health reasons in the midst of the pandemic while Federer has already abandoned his season due to knee surgery.
Boris Becker turns 50: His career in pictures
The man who helped spark a tennis boom in Germany in the 1980s has turned 50. Boris Becker has won Grand Slams both as a player and as a coach. But not everything he has turned his hand to has turned to gold.
Image: picture-alliance/NurPhoto/A. Pezzali
Teenaged German hero
On July 7, 1985 a 17-year-old, unseeded Boris Becker became an overnight star, defeating Kevin Curren to win the men's final at Wimbledon. He remains the youngest player to win at Wimbledon. He went on to defend his title in 1986, beating Ivan Lendl in the final, before winning it for a third time in 1989 when he overcame Stefan Edberg.
Image: Getty Images
The dawn of a new era
Before Boris Becker came along, Germany had never won the Davis Cup, This changed in 1988 when Becker and Carl-Uwe Steeb won their doubles match over then-world No. 1 Mats Wilander and reigning Wimbledon champion Stefan Edberg. Becker was also part of the German teams that won the Davis Cup in 1989 and 1993.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/R. Schrader
Acrobat
In 1990, Becker was named German male athlete of the year for a fourth time. His high-pressure and flexible game was best suited to fast surfaces particularly indoors and on grass. His was a serve-and-volley player and the fans loved him for his specialty, an acrobatic diving volley.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Scheidemann
World No. 1
Becker got off to a perfect start in the 1991 season, winning the Australian Open and reaching the top of the men's singles rankings for the first time. The German won a total of 49 singles titles in his career, including six Grand Slams. The French Open, however, eluded him.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/S. Bruty
Silent partners
At the Barcelona Summer Olympics in 1992, both Becker and his German rival Michael Stich (above, left) were eliminated early from the men's singles. However, they combined to win gold in the men's doubles. "We didn't really talk to each other at all between the rallies," Becker would later say. "We really didn't like each other."
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/K. U. Wärner
Wife No. 1
In late 1993 Becker married German-American actress and designer Barbara Feltus. Six years later, she and the rest of the world learned of his broom-closet affair with Russian model Angela Ermakova. The affair produced Becker's third child and led to his 2001 divorce from Barbara.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Farewell to the tennis court
Boris Becker's last match as a professional tennis player was his defeat to Australia's Patrick Rafter in the round of 16 at Wimbledon in 1999. Becker's career took a high physical toll on him. He has been quoted as saying that "I have two new hips and a 10-centimeter-long (six inches) metal plate in my right ankle, and I have a slight limp."
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Niedringhaus
Tax-evasion conviction
In 2002, Becker was convicted of evading €1.7 million ($1.9 million) in tax and handed a two-year suspended sentence. The judge had found that although Becker, like many other wealthy celebrities, officially resided in Monaco between 1991 and 1993, he actually spent the bulk of his time in Munich.
Image: Getty Images/Bongarts/S. Behne
Another day in court
In 2007, Becker found himself back in court as the owner of 60 percent of the shares in a company called Sportgate, which had gone bankrupt several years earlier. This time he got off easy, with the judges ordering him to pay just €114,000, far less than creditors had originally demanded.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Wife No. 2
In 2009, Becker married again, making Sharlely Kerssenberg of the Netherlands his second wife. She is the mother of his fourth child, Amadeus Benedict Edley Luis. They split their time between London and Zurich.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa /U. Deck
New job
At the end of 2013 most were surprised by the news that Boris Becker had just become Novak Djokovic's new coach. The Serbian, who at the time was the world No. 2, hired Becker in the hope that he could be of particular help with the mental side of his game. Under his German coach, Djokovic went on to return to the No. 1 spot in 2014.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/F. Arrizabalaga
Surplus to requirements
Djokovic and Becker formed a successful partnership, with the Serbian winning six Grand Slam titles under the German's tutelage. It all fell apart in late 2016 though. Becker pointed to a lack of intensity in training as the reason for Djokovic's dip in form. It has also been said that he didn't feel comfortable with the influence on the Serbian of a Spanish spiritual guru.
Image: picture alliance/AP Photo/A. Grant
Bankrupt
On June 21, 2017, a London court declared Boris Becker bankrupt after a private bank went to court over a "substantial" sum he owed them. The registrar found that there was a lack of credible evidence the amount would be paid anytime soon. Becker has rejected the notion, telling the newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung that he was "neither insolvent, nor bankrupt."
Image: picture-alliance/ATP/J.-P. Pariente
'Head of tennis'
All through his ups and downs, Boris Becker has remained the face of men's tennis in Germany. In August 2017, the German tennis federation (DTB) has named him to the newly created post of "head of tennis." In his new role, he is to manage all German men's tennis and oversee the running of the country's Davis Cup team. Barbara Rittner was given a similar role for the women.
Image: picture alliance/AP Photo
Looking back with satisfaction
Becker, seen here at the 2017 ATP Finals in London, refused to answer when asked by a reporter to say how he planned to celebrate his 50th birthday. "This is a private matter that I will not comment on," he said. In a German television documentary, Becker seemed satisfied with his lot in life. "When I look back at my life... I think, then I have gotten more things right than wrong," he said.
