Leading doubles players have slammed the ATP Tour for trying to ruin their specialist skill as a "viable profession" after a row over a potential reduction in the schedule.
The ATP Tour, which governs men's tennis, has proposed changes which could cut in half the number of players in doubles events from 2028.
In a meeting at Wimbledon this week, the ATP laid out their controversial plan, which could see only 16 teams being able to compete at ATP 1000 events and just eight at smaller tournaments.
Responding to the proposals, doubles players released a statement on Friday hitting back at the ATP.
"Doubles isn't a carnival sideshow. It is one of the most successful parts of tennis - integral to the amateur game - with the potential to do so much more," the statement said.
"Yet the impact of the ATP's proposals will be to diminish the sporting excellence that is professional doubles and turn off the pipeline of pro doubles players and the entire infrastructure that supports them.
"Doubles is not an afterthought we fell into. It has always been part of this sport's identity, not a discount version of it."
Singles players earn significantly more prize money than their doubles contemporaries, with far greater opportunities for sponsorship deals.
The doubles players argue the changes could have a devastating impact on the earning power of men ranked outside the doubles top 30.
"Do the maths on what that means for anyone outside the top 30: it will be impossible to make a living," the statement said.
"This is not a minor adjustment. It is a plan to end doubles as a viable profession, dressed up as a cost-saving measure.
"It is being pushed through with almost no transparency and almost no consultation with the players whose careers and livelihoods are on the line."
As a civil war threatens to engulf men's tennis, doubles players fear they are being ignored by the ATP in favour of their more high-profile singles counterparts.
Doubles players are upset not only with the plans, but also with the fact there has not been more consultation.
Lloyd Glasspool, who won the Wimbledon doubles title last year with fellow British player Julian Cash, said: "We've requested the ATP come and sit down with all the doubles players and just explain from their side in case there's something we're missing.
"But they're refusing because they say, 'Nothing valuable comes out of it, you guys get angry'. And we're like, 'Well, yeah, because you're taking our jobs away, what do you want us to do?’.
"We've worked 20 years to be in this position."
In a statement, the ATP said it wants to create a "more sustainable long-term model while maintaining doubles' important role on the tour".
The proposal comes at a time when leading singles players are pushing for more prize money from the Grand Slams.
"The review is also assessing whether changes to the doubles model could enable increased investment in early-round singles prize money, helping more players at the highest level to better meet the costs of competing on tour and build sustainable professional careers," the ATP added.
smg/jc
