Nadal has lunch meeting with Ljubicic about ATP
Ivan Ljubicic, the recently elected European Player Board Representative on the ATP Player Council, was seen in the U.S. Open players’ dining area Wednesday afternoon meeting with top-ranked Rafael Nadal and a Nadal representative, who was translating for the 22-year-old Spaniard.
The top three men’s players — Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic — have been critical of recent ATP efforts to remake the tour calendar. The trio also joined the players advisory council this summer.
Ljubicic, a 29-year-old Bosnian and former world No. 3, is not playing at the U.S. Open. Nadal’s session with Ljubicic, who was listening intently and scribbling on a legal pad that rested on a large binder, was likely related to the player leadership’s plans.
ATP director Etienne de Villiers, who had pushed the schedule reform, failed to have his contract renewed for 2009, and gave an emotional farewell speech to a full meeting of players on Saturday.
The ATP formed in 1990 to unite players and tournaments (but not the four Grand Slams) in running the men’s circuit, with equal representation for each on the board of directors.
— Max
