Djokovic’s PTPA Sues ATP, WTA, and Others in Legal Action

By Erik Gudris | @atntennis | Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Photo credit: TTV

In a bold move, the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) led by Novak Djokovic and financier Bill Ackman, initiated a groundbreaking lawsuit today in the New York Federal Court as well as in the United Kingdom and European Union.

Among the supporters of this lawsuit are renowned players such as Nick Kyrgios, Vasek Pospisil, and Sorana Cirstea.

The legal action alleges that the ATP, WTA, and International Tennis Federation (ITF) are entrenched in unethical business practices that are severely restricting players’ financial prospects and their professional autonomy.

“Tennis is fundamentally flawed,” stated Ahmad Nassar, Executive Director of the PTPA. “Beneath the glamorous image projected by the defendants, athletes find themselves ensnared in an unjust system that exploits their talents, limits their earnings, and compromises their well-being.

“We have pursued every avenue for reform through discussion; however, the governing bodies have left us no alternative but to seek justice in court.”

𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝘅 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘀.

Today, the PTPA along with over a dozen players filed extensive legal actions against the ATP, WTA, ITF, and ITIA in an effort to reform professional tennis. https://t.co/1r4LWQpopP

— Professional Tennis Players Association (@ptpaplayers) March 18, 2025

Established in 2019, the PTPA champions the rights of professional tennis players, advocating for greater control over their careers and improved opportunities for sponsorship and earnings off the court, which they feel are overly limited by ATP and WTA regulations.

The organization insists that players deserve a larger share of tournament prize money than what is currently permitted under ATP and WTA guidelines.

Additionally, the lawsuit targets the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), responsible for overseeing anti-doping and anti-corruption initiatives within the sport.

The PTPA’s position is that the ATP, WTA, ITF, and ITIA function as a cartel, employing restrictive and abusive practices that impede competition. This includes infringing on players’ privacy rights through invasive random drug tests and searches of personal devices, as well as mandatory arbitration agreements for resolving disputes.

Cirstea expressed in the PTPA announcement, “Players cannot afford to wait indefinitely for meaningful change. Despite our consistent voices and concerns, we’ve only been given empty promises. The current state—grueling schedules, financial instability, and insufficient support—is unsustainable. Resorting to legal action isn’t our first choice, but it has become essential to compel accountability and secure necessary improvements. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to demand better.”

In comments to ESPN, Pospisil emphasized that the PTPA felt compelled to take legal action after exhausting all options for resolution with the governing bodies. “We didn’t form a players association to remain passive. From the beginning, our intention has been to drive significant change, and we will explore all avenues to achieve that goal.”

The ATP, WTA, ITF, and ITIA have not provided any comments regarding the lawsuit.