Australian Open: Novak Djokovic denies talk of Aus Open boycott as following call to beef-up player pay packets

NOVAK Djokovic has denied reports of a potential Australian Open boycott, rejecting suggestions he is greedy and money-driven, following his first-round thumping of American Donald Young.

Novak Djokovic celebrates after defeating Donald Young during their first round match at Melbourne Park. Picture: AP

NOVAK Djokovic has denied reports of a potential Australian Open boycott, rejecting suggestions he is greedy and money-driven.

President of the player cohort, the former world No 1 described reports of demands for more money and a possible boycott as “a little bit exaggerated.”

“You’ve taken things out of the context. I saw that you’ve portrayed me as someone who is very greedy, asks for more money and wants to boycott,” he said.

“But I respect your freedom and decisions to do that. But not much of what you have wrote is true.”

MORE, PLEASE: Djokovic urges push for bigger slice

Novak Djokovic celebrates after defeating Donald Young during their first round match at Melbourne Park. Picture: AP

Referring to a player meeting on Friday night, when he cleared the room of officials, Djokovic said: “We players just wanted to have us players talk about certain topics.”

“I don’t think there is anything unhealthy about that. We get together, a hundred players get together two or three times in a whole year. This is one of the places where we get together.

“We wanted to use this opportunity to speak about certain subjects and see how everyone reacts to that, and I guess see what opinions are.

“There was no decisions being made. There was no talks about boycott or anything like that.”

Speaking after a first-round thumping of American Donald Young, Djokovic said the Australian Open was trying to “compensate the players in a best possible way.”

“Craig Tiley is always trying to accommodate players to make them feel like at home, make them feel respected and valued.

“Things are going in the right direction.

“I’m just glad that I’m part of it, that I can contribute to a better sport today, and the future. Hopefully the next generation will even have a better sport.”

Novak Djokovic wants more money for the players.

Amid reports Australian Open prizemoney is forecast to almost double to $100m, Djokovic has linked to a push to form a player union to obtain more revenue.

The ATP Tour is a partnership between the players and the tournaments.

The four grand slams — Australian, French, Wimbledon and US Open — sit outside the ATP Tour structure.

Djokovic’s push for greater rewards surprised officials, and many players, on several fronts.

There have been significant prizemoney increases on the ATP World Tour, rising from $91m in 2014 to $137m this year.

More than 50 players last year earned over $1m in prizemoney — up from 30 players four years ago.

And the ATP Tour player pension contributions have jumped 254 per cent since 2008.

Viktor Troicki has thrown his support behind Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic’s Serbian teammate and good friend Victor Troicki says it’s “just ridiculous” how small a percentage players receive from grand slam revenue.

Asked ahead of his looming second-round Open clash with Nick Kyrgios if he had an opinion on the matter, Troicki said: “I do. I do. I have an opinion but I think what happens inside the union with the players should stay inside, and we’ll see”.

Troicki wasn’t able to attend last Friday’s players’ meeting because he was contesting the Sydney International.

“But I was informed about it, knew about it even before because I talk to Novak a lot about it,” he said.

Novak Djokovic wants more money for the players.

“If you look at the percentages, what we get from all the income from the grand slams, I think it’s just ridiculous.

“Even though they say they’re raising the money all the time — they are — but they’re earning much more than they did (in the) last (few) years and that’s a bit of a problem, I think”.

The issue is sure to cause division, with defending Australian Open champion Roger Federer — the sport’s biggest star — said to be in favour of the status quo, comfortable players are receiving enough.