Novak Djokovic, against the advice of some concerned advisers, is agitating for a players’ boycott of the Australian Open next year, as well as the formation of a breakaway union and an end to equal pay for men and women at grand slam tournaments. If successful, the high-stakes revolt would create deep fissures across the sport.

The extraordinary and unexpected development at the start of the new season emerged here on Monday night after a tense players’ meeting before the tournament on Friday in which administrators were politely shown the door after outlining their plans for the future. Djokovic, who is the president of the players’ council, was accompanied by an Australian lawyer and took the microphone to put forward his ultimatum to about 150 players across the rankings. Few were prepared for what he told them, and the story has since dominated the locker room as well as the boardroom.

Some players are guardedly behind Djokovic, who called for a significant increase in prize money to provide players with a fairer share of the reve-nue raised by tournaments. Andy Murray, who was at the meeting and is a champion of women’s rights in tennis, is steadfastly opposed to the idea that there should be a two-tier money system. He supports increased distribution of resources among lower‑ranked players that would arise from increased prize money, however, as do Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer – although the Swiss, a model of diplomacy, is less enthusiastic about the direct challenge to the tournament and officials. The idea that players would go on strike remains far-fetched in the opinion of many, but it has been discussed this weekend.

Kevin Anderson, vice-president of the players’ council (who earlier lost against Kyle Edmund in five sets), insisted: “It was a discussion, -nothing more than that. It was brief. There is a not a lot of substance to it right now.”

The feeling is there is not enough rank-and-file support for what appears to be an ill-timed insurrection, even if there is an underlying Robin Hood element to spreading the wealth; players beyond 150 in the world rankings are the very poor relations of those at the very top, some earning little more than enough to stay on the Tour.

The wider grievance seems to be driven by a suspicion that the Association of Tennis Professionals, their governing body, is conflicted because the interests of the tournaments are often paramount. Djokovic was not available for comment yesterday and neither the ATP nor Tennis Australia would address the issue until -receiving confirmation of the demands from Djokovic himself.

The American Ryan Harrison, who beat Dudi Sela in five sets on day one, however, said: “The only people that represent us [the ATP] are also representing the tournaments. It would be good to have some form of representation that doesn’t have bias on the other side – not that we ever go against the tournaments. But, when we’re arguing for more prize money or about scheduling or things like that, to be able to have a voice for ourselves makes sense.”

Harrison, ranked 45 in the world, has earned $3.6m in seven years on the Tour. He added: “I think there’s a big case to be made [for more prize money], as far as percentage [from tournament revenue] goes. We make really good money in tennis but, at the same time, from a professional athlete’s standpoint, it could not be compared with others. If you see an NBA or NFL player, you think seven figures in their bank account. I don’t think that’s the case even for [some players who] make the main draw at grand slams.

“That could be the case if the grand slams continue to make the moves that I think started here in Australia, because Craig Tiley has done an amazing job of being the most pro-player [tournament director]. He has set the standard.”

Yet Djokovic is carrying the fight to the game’s leadership despite -assurances from Craig Tiley, the tournament director, that prize money here will double over the next five or six years to more than £57m. “He’s mad if he thinks this is going to succeed,” one administrator told the Guardian. “It makes no sense.”

Djokovic, who has won this title six times and is returning from the elbow injury that has sidelined him since he lost at Wimbledon last July, has taken advice from an Australian law professor well versed in union law, supposedly on the grounds the labour laws here favour workers more than they do in other countries. It is a dubious claim.

The former world No 1, seeded 14th here on his return to the Tour, lives in tax-free Monte Carlo and was the first player to pass career earnings of $100m, in 2016, but there would seem to be a wish among even the multi-millionaires on Tour to receive more than the 7% of revenues that currently come their way. Many leading players regard their remuneration to be out of kilter with other sports, particularly golf. However, golf can take its rich competitors to hundreds of suitable venues throughout the world, while tennis tournaments have only a few recognised staging posts: : Wimbledon, Flushing Meadows, Roland Garros and Melbourne, along with some others on the ATP Masters circuit

The notion tennis could be divided along gender lines is also unlikely to gain traction among sponsors, television executives or fans. However, it does not seem Djokovic is in the mood to be appeased.