MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — In a significant move, the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA), co-founded by the legendary 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic, has initiated an antitrust lawsuit against the men’s and women’s professional tours, the International Tennis Federation (ITF), and the integrity agency of the sport. Filed in U.S. District Court in New York on Tuesday, the lawsuit boldly labels these organizations as operating like “a cartel.”
The legal complaint underscores that these governing bodies maintain “total control over player compensation and working conditions,” framing their practices as “classic violations of both state and federal laws.” This control, the PTPA argues, effectively shields professional tennis from standard market dynamics, denying players and other stakeholders their right to fair competition.
The PTPA is demanding a jury trial with the aim of ensuring players gain better access to earnings. They assert that the organizations overseeing the prestigious Grand Slam tournaments—Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, the French Open, and the Australian Open—along with other professional competitions, impose caps on prize money and restrict players’ opportunities to generate off-court income.
Representatives from the WTA Tour, ATP Tour, ITF, and International Tennis Integrity Agency were unavailable for immediate comment when approached by The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Founded by Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil in August 2020, the PTPA seeks to represent players who operate as independent contractors in a predominantly individual sport. One of its core ambitions is to evolve into a fully-fledged union capable of negotiating collective bargaining agreements akin to those in team sports.
“For the last few years, the PTPA, an initiative I’ve poured my efforts into since day one, has strived to collaborate with the tours for the betterment of players,” Pospisil shared on social media. “Despite our numerous efforts and willingness to engage in constructive discussion, we have faced persistent resistance and a lack of substantive action. This ongoing disregard for players has compelled us to pursue our own course of action. For too long, we’ve endured a flawed system that overlooks our well-being and undervalues our contributions, leaving us without true representation.”
Notably, Djokovic himself is not listed among the plaintiffs in this lawsuit.
“His support for this initiative is unequivocal. It’s unnecessary for him to be a plaintiff, as the PTPA is already named and he serves on the executive committee,” stated PTPA spokesman David Cooper. “He wished to give others the opportunity to take the lead, emphasizing that this organization extends beyond just Novak.”
Before resorting to legal action, the PTPA engaged with over 250 players, encompassing both men and women, including a significant majority from the top 20 of the WTA and ATP rankings.
“Tennis is in distress,” declared PTPA executive director Ahmad Nassar in a press release. “Beneath the glamorous façade promoted by the defendants, players find themselves ensnared in an unjust system that exploits their talents, suppresses their earnings, and endangers their health and safety. After exhausting all avenues for reform via dialogue, the governing bodies have left us with no alternative but to seek accountability through the legal system. Correcting these systemic issues isn’t about disrupting tennis — it’s about safeguarding the sport for future generations of players and fans.”
