Pospisil Apologizes for Tirade against ATP, but Tensions Linger

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday March 24, 2021

 

Vasek Pospisil took to Twitter to apologize for his tirade in opposition to ATP brass on Wednesday in Miami.

Picture Supply: Getty

Hours after Vasek Pospisil went viral along with his profanity laced tirade in opposition to the ATP’s administration, and his three-set loss to American Mackenzie McDonald, the Canadian cooled down and took to Twitter to apologize for his actions.

Pospisil, who shocked the tennis world on Wednesday when he known as out ATP CEO Andrea Gaudenzi (not by title, however by title) and informed umpire Arnaud Gabas that he needed to sit there and be yelled at for 90 minutes throughout a gathering held with gamers and ATP executives in attendance.

“I wish to sincerely apologize for my conduct on the court docket in Miami earlier right now,” Pospisil tweeted. “I disrespected the sport I like and for that I’m really sorry. By means of clarification, I felt deeply unnerved throughout a gathering between gamers and ATP executives final evening.”

I wish to sincerely apologize for my conduct on the court docket in Miami earlier right now. I disrespected the sport I like and for that I’m really sorry. By means of clarification, I felt deeply unnerved throughout a gathering between gamers and ATP executives final evening, and.. [1/2]

— Vasek Pospisil (@VasekPospisil) March 25, 2021

“I underestimated the toll these feelings took on me till I stepped onto the court docket right now,” he concluded.

It was all we heard from Pospisil, who was not known as to press after his loss on Wednesday, which meant that there have been seemingly no requests from media to talk to him.

Extra might be stated concerning the incident, as different gamers had been seemingly in attendance and may give their perspective about it. What they say–if they are saying anyting–will definitely be a window into the present state of politics between the gamers and the administration of the tour.

Till then we’re left to take a position concerning the true nature of the assembly and the rationale that Pospisil was pressured to endure a 90-minute tongue lashing, presumably by ATP CEO Gaudenzi.

There have been hints earlier than that one thing was being deliberate—maybe a participant strike or some kind of protest in opposition to the tour—final week. Stefanos Tsitsipas alluded to this in his press convention at Acapulco, saying that issues that may be occurring that defined the absence of sure gamers in Miami. Tsitsipas declined to say something extra concerning the topic, however his phrases appeared to forewarn.

Stefanos Tsitsipas not thrilled to go to a different bubble in Miami. I’ve no thought what he is referring to on the finish of his assertion, however it appears like one thing’s brewing? pic.twitter.com/zd0cpshjq0

— Chris Oddo (@TheFanChild) March 21, 2021

Many Prime 100 gamers have chosen to not play the match, and whereas it might merely be on account of the truth that Indian Wells has been postponed and it makes much less sense to journey to American for one match, particularly throughout a pandemic, many consider that the decreased prize cash that prime gamers are receiving this yr is a root trigger for the stress, and thus the mass absenceses this week.

Maybe it isn’t truly the cash, as John Isner hinted right now, however the truth that the ATP is not going to be totally clear about how a lot cash they’re incomes in the course of the pandemic in order that the gamers can get a clearer image of whether or not or not they’re being handled pretty. Pospisil himself has been annoyed for years by the ATP’s unwillingness to be clear, and has cited his want to conduct a full audit of the tour’s books so the gamers might know the place they stand.

What’s clear is that Pospisil, a founding father of the PTPA (a pro-player spin-off of the participant council fashioned final summer season to present the gamers a bigger voice on the tour) together with Novak Djokovic, had needed to additional unite the gamers in trigger this week in Miami, was met with resistance from the ATP’s brass and didn’t take kindly to it.

His apology is geniune, however it doesn’t give any indication that the battle between the events will cool off. For now, we wait eagerly to see what the opposite gamers in Miami need to say about it.