Djokovic expresses mixed views on PTPA's legal action
Alona Yadav | Mar 21, 2025, 21:24 IST
( Image credit : IANS )
Novak Djokovic expresses mixed feelings about the PTPA lawsuits against tennis governing bodies, aiming to address player welfare and representation issues. Despite his absence from the complaint, Djokovic advocates for better player influence. The association alleges monopolization and poor player conditions, while the ATP, WTA, ITF, and ITIA plan to defend their positions.
Novak Djokovic has revealed his conflicted stance regarding the legal action recently initiated by the Professional Tennis Players' Association (PTPA), the organization he helped establish.
"This is a classic lawsuit, so lawyers to lawyers type of situation. To be quite frank with you, there are things that I agree with in the lawsuit, and then there are also things that I don't agree with," Djokovic told reporters at the Miami Open on Thursday.
Earlier this week, the PTPA filed lawsuits against the ATP and WTA Tours, the International Tennis Federation (ITF), and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The association is also pursuing legal action in the European Union and United Kingdom.
The complaints allege that these governing bodies operate "as a cartel," claiming "monopolization" of men's and women's tennis and "disregard" for player interests. The wide-ranging legal action addresses multiple issues including prize money distribution, the rankings system, tournament scheduling, ITIA investigative processes, and name, image, and likeness compensation.
Twelve players are named as plaintiffs in the US complaint, including PTPA co-founder Vasek Pospisil and 2022 Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios. Notably, Djokovic's name does not appear on the document.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion explained his absence from the complaint: "I've previously been very active in tennis politics, but I want other players to step up."
He added, "I've never been a fan and supporter of division in our sport, but I've always fought for better representation and influence of and positioning of the players globally in our sport, which I think is still not where it should be and where most of the players think it should be."
In its press release, the PTPA highlighted several player welfare concerns, including competitors being forced to play in extreme heat, late-night matches ending at 3 a.m., and using different "injury-inducing" tennis balls. The association also pointed to the grueling 11-month season that allows minimal recovery time.
Additionally, the PTPA alleges that the tours "collude" to limit prize money, block new competitors and tournaments from entering the market, enforce a "draconian" ranking points system, and deny players compensation from name, image, and likeness rights.
Both the ATP and WTA have expressed dissatisfaction with the lawsuits and stated they would defend their positions "vigorously." The ITIA acknowledged awareness of the filings, while the ITF indicated it would take time to formulate an appropriate response.
Not all top players support the action. Four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz distanced himself from the lawsuit on Wednesday: "Yesterday, I saw on social media that they put something I said in a press conference in the documents and I wasn't aware of it. I honestly don't support that letter because I wasn't aware of it."
Djokovic, currently on a three-match losing streak in singles competition, is scheduled to face Australian Rinky Hijikata at the Miami Open on Friday, while Alcaraz will take on Belgium's David Goffin.
"This is a classic lawsuit, so lawyers to lawyers type of situation. To be quite frank with you, there are things that I agree with in the lawsuit, and then there are also things that I don't agree with," Djokovic told reporters at the Miami Open on Thursday.
Earlier this week, the PTPA filed lawsuits against the ATP and WTA Tours, the International Tennis Federation (ITF), and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The association is also pursuing legal action in the European Union and United Kingdom.
The complaints allege that these governing bodies operate "as a cartel," claiming "monopolization" of men's and women's tennis and "disregard" for player interests. The wide-ranging legal action addresses multiple issues including prize money distribution, the rankings system, tournament scheduling, ITIA investigative processes, and name, image, and likeness compensation.
Twelve players are named as plaintiffs in the US complaint, including PTPA co-founder Vasek Pospisil and 2022 Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios. Notably, Djokovic's name does not appear on the document.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion explained his absence from the complaint: "I've previously been very active in tennis politics, but I want other players to step up."
He added, "I've never been a fan and supporter of division in our sport, but I've always fought for better representation and influence of and positioning of the players globally in our sport, which I think is still not where it should be and where most of the players think it should be."
In its press release, the PTPA highlighted several player welfare concerns, including competitors being forced to play in extreme heat, late-night matches ending at 3 a.m., and using different "injury-inducing" tennis balls. The association also pointed to the grueling 11-month season that allows minimal recovery time.
Additionally, the PTPA alleges that the tours "collude" to limit prize money, block new competitors and tournaments from entering the market, enforce a "draconian" ranking points system, and deny players compensation from name, image, and likeness rights.
Both the ATP and WTA have expressed dissatisfaction with the lawsuits and stated they would defend their positions "vigorously." The ITIA acknowledged awareness of the filings, while the ITF indicated it would take time to formulate an appropriate response.
Not all top players support the action. Four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz distanced himself from the lawsuit on Wednesday: "Yesterday, I saw on social media that they put something I said in a press conference in the documents and I wasn't aware of it. I honestly don't support that letter because I wasn't aware of it."
Djokovic, currently on a three-match losing streak in singles competition, is scheduled to face Australian Rinky Hijikata at the Miami Open on Friday, while Alcaraz will take on Belgium's David Goffin.