MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Novak Djokovic expressed his desire for unity in tennis despite the recent antitrust lawsuit initiated by the players’ association he helped establish. Speaking at a pre-tournament press briefing for the Miami Open, he emphasized the necessity for players to have a greater share of the revenue and enhanced influence within the sport.
As a 24-time Grand Slam champion, Djokovic clarified that he did not include his name among the plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court in New York, as well as in Brussels and London, stating, “I want other players to take the lead.”
The Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA) is challenging the women’s and men’s tours, the International Tennis Federation, and the sport’s integrity agency, alleging that these organizations exert “total control over players’ salaries and working conditions,” labeling them a “cartel.”
“While I’ve never endorsed divisiveness in our sport, I have consistently advocated for improved representation and influence for players on a global scale,” Djokovic remarked. “Currently, I believe we are not where we need to be, particularly in terms of revenue distribution and various other critical aspects outlined in this lawsuit.”
The PTPA claims to have consulted with over 250 players, both female and male, gaining support for their class-action lawsuit. Among those who have lent their names to the U.S. lawsuit are 2022 Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios, Sorana Cirstea, Varvara Gracheva, Reilly Opelka, Tennys Sandgren, and Nicole Melichar-Martinez.
Conversely, four-time major champion Carlos Alcaraz expressed his reservations during the Miami Open, indicating his disapproval partly because he was unaware of being quoted in the filing, had not been informed of its proceedings, and did not align with all the claims made by the attorneys.
Djokovic resonated with Alcaraz’s concerns, adding, “I truly hope that all governing bodies, including the PTPA, can collaborate to address these matters. This lawsuit entails a classic legal battle, lawyers versus lawyers. To be candid, while I find certain aspects of the lawsuit agreeable, there are also elements I disagree with. I feel that some language used may be overly aggressive, but I trust the legal team understands the terminology required to achieve the desired impact.”
