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| Vasek Pospisil and Novak Djokovic are founders of the Professional Tennis Players Association. Photograph: Kelly Barnes/AP |
The player advocacy organization founded by Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil has launched a lawsuit against the governing bodies of professional tennis, marking an escalation in its battle to secure better rights for players.
The six-year-old Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), which has struggled to drive change from outside the system, is now pursuing legal action against the ATP Tour, WTA Tour, International Tennis Federation (ITF) and International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). The 163-page complaint, filed in the US district court for the southern district of New York, lists 12 current and former players as plaintiffs, including Pospisil, Nick Kyrgios and Sorana Cîrstea. It alleges that the governing bodies have systematically suppressed competition, manipulated prize money structures and imposed restrictive ranking systems that prevent players from seeking alternative earnings. The lawsuit also accuses the ITIA of violating player rights through invasive anti-doping and anti-corruption practices.
In a statement announcing the lawsuit, the PTPA described the legal action as a necessary step after years of failed attempts to push for reform. “Following years of good-faith efforts to reform professional tennis, the PTPA has taken decisive legal action,” it said. “The lawsuits expose systemic abuse, anti-competitive practices, and a blatant disregard for player welfare that have persisted for decades.”
The lawsuit, a copy of which has been obtained by the Guardian, argues that the governing bodies function as a “cartel”, enforcing a rigid economic system that keeps players’ earnings artificially low. It highlights an example from Indian Wells, where billionaire tournament owner Larry Ellison was blocked from increasing prize money due to ATP and WTA regulations. The plaintiffs contend that this system prevents tournaments from competing for talent and forces players into unfair contracts.
“Tennis is broken,” Ahmad Nassar, the 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.”
The ranking system is another major point of contention. Players earn ranking points only by competing in ATP- and WTA-sanctioned events, which the PTPA argues forces them into an unsustainable 45-week-per-year schedule. Additionally, the governing bodies impose non-compete clauses and fines for players who participate in alternative tournaments.
Beyond financial issues, the lawsuit also highlights concerns about player welfare. The PTPA claims that the governing bodies have disregarded player health by forcing athletes to compete in extreme heat and late at night, citing recent incidents at the Australian Open and US Open.
The ITIA, which oversees tennis’s anti-doping and anti-corruption investigations, is accused of operating with little accountability, subjecting players to intrusive searches of their personal devices, repeated drug tests and lengthy interrogations without legal representation. The lawsuit suggests that these measures are used as a tool of control rather than genuine efforts to maintain integrity in the sport.
Pospisil, a former Wimbledon doubles champion, emphasized that the lawsuit is not just about money but about fundamental fairness and dignity. “I’m one of the more fortunate players, and I’ve still had to sleep in my car when traveling to matches early in my career,” he said. “Imagine an NFL player being told he had to sleep in his car at an away game. It’s absurd. No other major sport treats its athletes this way.”
The PTPA was founded in 2019 to represent players independently from the ATP and WTA, which also serve as the governing bodies for men’s and women’s professional tennis. The lawsuit alleges that the ATP has actively sought to suppress the PTPA, including by introducing rules that penalize players who affiliate with the organization. One such rule change removes eligibility for pension benefits and player council participation for those aligned with “adverse organizations” like the PTPA.
Djokovic has been vocal about the need for a fairer system, arguing that players deserve a larger share of the sport’s multi-billion-dollar revenue. “We need a system where players have a voice and can negotiate for their rights like athletes in other major sports,” he said in a recent interview.
The lawsuit draws parallels to historic legal battles in other sports, including Major League Baseball’s reserve clause case and the National Basketball Association’s fight for free agency. If successful, it could force major structural changes in professional tennis, including the restructuring of revenue-sharing models and ranking systems. It could also pave the way for greater player autonomy, similar to what has been achieved in leagues like the NFL and NBA.
Tennis’s governing bodies have yet to issue formal responses, though insiders suggest they will argue that the existing system is necessary to maintain competitive balance. A protracted legal battle is expected, with potential ramifications that could reshape the professional game.
For now, the PTPA insists that reform is inevitable. “Players are the product,” said one unnamed plaintiff. “Without us, there is no tennis. It’s time for the sport to reflect that reality.”
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