Novak Djokovic on Thursday offered support to player demands for more of a share of the Grand Slam moneybag, with the veteran Serb reminding that he has fought that particular battle before.

The 24-time major winner who turns 39 in just over a fortnight, will be playing in only his third tournament of the season when he fronts up at the Foro Italico.

The Serb last competed in early March at Indian Wells, but has been missing since through injury.

Djokovic did not hold back in supporting a letter signed by 20 top ATP and WTA players seeking a bigger slice of the Grand Slam, with prize money payouts at the majors all under 20 percent of gross revenue.

“This is not a new subject, new topic. It’s been ongoing for many, many years.” the player who won the first of his six titles here in 2008 said.

“As long as I’m playing I know this has been a topic.”

The veteran who is the last of the iconic Big 4 still active on court said that the bureaucratic system of the sport is stacked against player power.

“The monopoly of our sport is very strong. Tennis has changed a lot, but
there’s certain things within the structure that hasn’t changed.

“The players within the Player Council have really absolutely
no power. I’ve been there. I was president of the council.”

While Djokovic gave his support to the current reform effort, he said he will be watching from the sidelines, adding that his main goal is to do well in Rome while concentrating on a possible standout performance at Roland Garros in a few weeks.

“Players know that they’ll always have my support… the new generation is coming up. I’m glad that there is willingness from the leaders of our sport to really step up and really understand the dynamics of how tennis politics works and understand the nuances and really what needs to be done for everyone.”

The potential for a boycott of a future Slam event is gaining traction, with fellow world No.1s Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka both on board.

Sinner said that players are not being respected, with their letter earlier in the year not even dignified with a serious response.

“If the top athletes (in other sports) send important letters, I truly believe that within 48 hours you have not only a response but you also agree to have a meeting.”

Main photo:- The Iconic 4 – Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Andy Murray – by Roger Parker ISF Ltd

Serial WTA absentee Emma Raducnau has pulled out of yet another event, with the one-time British No. 1 now set to miss the Rome Masters underway this week.

The No. 30 has not played in two months since losing 6-1, 6-1 at Indian Wells in early March to Amanda Anisimova.

Raducanu pulled the plug in odd fashion, with  her withdrawal from the Foro Italico announced 30 minutes after she left a media conference where she expressed excitement at the chance to get back on court.

The cause of the withdrawal was a generic “illness.”

 Should she somehow play Roland Garros starting in late May, Raducanu’s ranking would likely have dropped into the danger zone for one of the 32 seedings.

British media speculate that the Rome media event was a smokescreen, with the player avoiding an USD 15,000 fine had she not attended the conference after what seems to have been a pre-planned onsite pull.

The 23-year-old had been training on the Roman clay since the weekend, giving all indications that she was preparing for the event, last major test before Roland Garros.

Jannik Sinner vowed on Sunday to extend his historic Masters 1000 win streak and will plough ahead into the Rome Masters which begins next week.

The on-fire Italian claimed an historic fifth straight Masters 1000 title in succession at the weekend as he crushed two-time Madrid winner Alexander Zverev with the loss of just three games in a rout lasting for less than an hour.

Now, Sinner plans to test his luck by fronting up at the Foro Italico to play as top seed without the bother of rival Carlos Alcaraz in the draw as the Spaniard heals a long-term wrist injury.

Sinner has another goal in the back of his mind besides the home trophy: should he win Rome – a record sixth straight Masters 1000 title – he would complete a matched set of all nine Masters trophies.

“I think playing at home is always very special. At the same time, now I just want to enjoy this. I don’t want to think about future plans,” the native German-speaker who can garner scorn from “real” Italians, said.

“Physically, I’m good. There is no reason not to play Rome, of course. But at the same time, I want to enjoy this. 

“It has been a very, very long tournament, starting from Indian Wells (early March) . 

“Obviously very happy, but now it’s also good to recover. Especially also mentally, we did a lot. There is always a lot of pressure.”

While basking in the glow of setting a tennis record with his five Masters titles, Sinner is not obsessing over his achievement.

“I don’t compare myself with other players. I try to be the best possible version of myself, and that’s it. In the same time, it also depends, you know, day by day it’s always different.”

Main photo:- Jannik Sinner lifts Madrid Mutua trophy – by ISF Ltd