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Wawrinka's furious swipe at fellow players revealed in leaked email

A furious letter penned by Stan Wawrinka has exposed another huge rift in men’s tennis.

A war has been brewing behind the scenes at the Australian Open over player pay and power.

The governing body behind the men’s professional tour, the ATP, seems set to lurch into crisis after the Open, with suggestions of a player mutiny.

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At the annual players meeting in Melbourne last Saturday, players council president Novak Djokovic reportedly voted against extending the tenure of ATP chief executive Chris Kermode, a move that could set off dramatic changes in the tour’s direction.

Now a letter from Stan Wawrinka has emerged, in which he attacks the Djokovic-led faction who want Kermode gone.

According to the UK Telegraph, the World No.59 writes in caps: “YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THE CURRENT DIRECTION LAST 5 YEARS AND ACCEPT IT IS GOOD AND MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. YOU CANNOT BE SURE IT WILL BE BETTER [under a new ATP president].”

Stan Wawrinka in action. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)”n”n
Stan Wawrinka in action. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)”n”n

Wawrinka reportedly sent the letter to Canadian star Vasek Pospisil, another member of the anti-Kermode faction.

Pospisil had previously sent a letter to players ranked between No. 50 and 100, suggesting they should “start acting and running like a business not like a bunch of scared kids … we need a CEO that first and foremost represents OUR interests.”

The Telegraph reports that Wawrinka’s letter has been passed around the locker room.

“I did not want to spend time writing this the day before a grand slam here in Australia but I am reading crazy things online about player council voting against the CEO yesterday,” it says.

“In the player meeting yesterday Andy Murray stand up and said that no player knows that any vote is happening and no players have been asked their opinion.

“You emailed us Friday telling us your opinion because of grand-slam money and the players’ voice of the ATP and that we need to change CEO.

Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

“I completely disagree and know so many players and so many top players that COMPLETELY disagree with this. The sport and ATP are trying and I repeat moving good forward.

“In player meeting yesterday, it said the players vote for the ATP is at highest marks ever in history. What is the problem?”

‘Definitely interesting times’

Last Sunday Djokovic wouldn’t confirm his vote, citing the meeting’s confidentiality.

“The decision hasn’t been made on the president,” Djokovic said.

“Whether there’s a renewal or not, it’s going to be decided in the next period.”

Also on Sunday, Roger Federer conceded “a lot is happening” behind the scenes and he would take soundings from other players on their views.

“It’s definitely interesting times, I’d like to call it, not bad times in our sport. It’s maybe also a bit of a transition time. So it will be interesting to see what’s going to happen,” he said.

Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic don’t appear to be on the same page. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic don’t appear to be on the same page. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Nadal rails against rebel faction

On Monday, Rafael Nadal threw his support behind Kermode and hit out at not being consulted by the players’ council over such an important issue.

“I am not in the council any more, and at the same time, nobody from the council side came to me and asked me my opinion,” he said.

“Was the first information I had that maybe Chris is not continuing. But I suppose if some crucial decisions like this, I understand that somebody from the council should come to me and ask my position.”

Australian super-coach Darren Cahill railed against a change on Twitter, saying Kermode had brought “big increases in prize money, pension plan, new events, doubles initiative supporter, new progressive rules for injured players … facility upgrades”.

“I’d be stunned if Chris Kermode is removed. ATP needs stability right now,” he wrote.