<p>Novak Djokovic said Friday that women will be a part of his proposed new players' association that is sending shockwaves through world tennis.</p>.<p>The world number one said he had been talking to female players at the US Open this week to try get them onboard.</p>.<p>"There's been a lot of talk about this being an only men's association and it's not true," Djokovic told reporters following his 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 third round win over Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff.</p>.<p>He said he hoped women would join the controversial new union "in big numbers."</p>.<p>The Serbian added that he had spoken to Serena Williams and Sloane Stephens about the project.</p>.<p>Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal spoke out against the proposal when it was announced at the weekend. They called for "unity, not separation."</p>.<p>Djokovic says the new association is intended to bring players together to give them a louder voice in decision-making.</p>.<p>He insists it would not form a rival tour to the ATP or WTA, or seek to boycott tournaments.</p>.<p>The 17-time Grand Slam winner added that he was "happy" to have received 150 signatures supporting the union.</p>.<p>He added, though, that he had been "unpleasantly surprised" by the reaction of some players.</p>
<p>Novak Djokovic said Friday that women will be a part of his proposed new players' association that is sending shockwaves through world tennis.</p>.<p>The world number one said he had been talking to female players at the US Open this week to try get them onboard.</p>.<p>"There's been a lot of talk about this being an only men's association and it's not true," Djokovic told reporters following his 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 third round win over Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff.</p>.<p>He said he hoped women would join the controversial new union "in big numbers."</p>.<p>The Serbian added that he had spoken to Serena Williams and Sloane Stephens about the project.</p>.<p>Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal spoke out against the proposal when it was announced at the weekend. They called for "unity, not separation."</p>.<p>Djokovic says the new association is intended to bring players together to give them a louder voice in decision-making.</p>.<p>He insists it would not form a rival tour to the ATP or WTA, or seek to boycott tournaments.</p>.<p>The 17-time Grand Slam winner added that he was "happy" to have received 150 signatures supporting the union.</p>.<p>He added, though, that he had been "unpleasantly surprised" by the reaction of some players.</p>