Massimo Calvelli, chief executive of men’s tennis’ top-tier ATP, is stepping down from that role at the end of June.
He leaves the position after over five years in charge, having started at the start of 2020. Before moving to the ATP, he was a senior executive at US sportswear giant Nike.
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This departure comes with the ATP – as well as the majority of global tennis’ governing bodies – currently under legal attack by the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA), the body co-founded in 2020 by men's tennis icon Novak Djokovic.
A 163-page lawsuit was filed at the US District Court in New York in mid-March, by the PTPA as well as 12 specific players, criticising the current tennis schedule, and ranking systems (among other elements).
It has claimed the various bodies engage in “anti-competitive practices and a blatant disregard for player welfare."
The ATP has defended itself, saying it “strongly rejects the premise of the PTPA's claims,” which it has said are “entirely without merit.”
The lawsuit is essentially looking for an end to control of the tennis calendar by the ATP, the women’s WTA, and the International Tennis Federation, as well as financial compensation from those bodies and the International Tennis Integrity Agency.
Now, in the wake of this lawsuit, Calvelli has moved aside, to be replaced on a temporary basis by ATP chair Andrea Gaudenzi.
Calvelli has now said: “It’s been a privilege to serve as CEO of the ATP over the past five years. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made together and deeply thankful to the team I’ve worked alongside. With new opportunities ahead, I will leave with a sense of pride, and I wish everyone at the ATP continued success in the journey to come.”
Gaudenzi added: "Massimo has been a fantastic leader for the ATP. His strategic focus and tireless work ethic were instrumental in navigating a complex period for our sport – one in which we’ve achieved unprecedented growth.”
The ATP has mentioned, in announcing Calvelli’s departure, the outgoing CEO’s “pivotal role in guiding the organisation through the challenges of the global pandemic,” as well as the fact that player compensation is now “more than $100 million higher in 2025 compared to 2019.”
