Novak Djokovic-backed players union files lawsuit against ATP, WTA

Novak Djokovic's players union. Professional Tennis Players' Association, has filed lawsuits against the sport's governing bodies, ATP and WTA. The player union slammed both the governing bodies for their practices with players.

In Short

• Djokovic co-founded the PTPA in 2019
• PTPA said in the statement that they were trying to end the "monopolistic control" of the sport
• ATP and WTA slammed PTPA after the lawsuit was filed

The Professional Tennis Players' Association (PTPA), a player union backed by Novak Djokovic, has filed a lawsuit against the tennis governing bodies, ATP and WTA, accusing them of anti-competitive practices and disregard for player welfare. The PTPA, an independent players' union co-founded by Djokovic in 2019, said that they were forced to take the legal route after years of trying to reform professional tennis.

The PTPA said in the statement that they were trying to end the "monopolistic control" of the sport. Ahmad Nassar, Executive Director of the PTPA, claimed that tennis is broken at the moment and the players are trapped in an unfair system that is exploiting them.

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Nassar said that taking legal action wasn't about disrupting tennis and was all about saving the next generation of fans and players.

"Tennis is broken," Ahmad Nassar, Executive Director of the PTPA, said in a statement. "Behind the glamorous veneer that the Defendants promote, players are trapped in an unfair system that exploits their talent, suppresses their earnings, and jeopardizes their health and safety."

"We have exhausted all options for reform through dialogue, and the governing bodies have left us no choice but to seek accountability through the courts. Fixing these systemic failures isn't about disrupting tennis, it's about saving it for the generations of players and fans to come."

In the statement, the PTPA also said that it, along with more than a dozen players, had filed papers in a New York court against the ATP Tour, the WTA Tour, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).

ATP and WTA hit back at PTPA

ATP lashed out at PTPA, saying that they are choosing "division and distraction" and having no meaningful role in the sport.

"We strongly reject the premise of the PTPA's claims, believe the case to be entirely without merit, and will vigorously defend our position," the ATP said in a statement.

"ATP remains committed to working in the best interests of the game -- towards continued growth, financial stability, and the best possible future for players, tournaments, and fans," read the statement.

The WTA defended itself and pointed to their record of helping women's tennis grow. They described the lawsuit by PTPA as baseless.

"Every decision taken at the WTA Board level includes the input of players via their elected Board representatives, and athletes receive substantial financial rewards and other benefits from participation in the WTA," the organisation said.