Djokovic-founded players' union starts legal action vs tennis' governing bodies

A tennis players’ union co-founded by Novak Djokovic has started legal action against the sport’s governing bodies.

The Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA), which was founded in 2021 and cites its mission as supporting and safeguarding professional tennis players, has filed papers at the United States District Court in New York.

The lawsuit says “professional tennis players are stuck in a rigged game” which gives them “limited control over their own careers and brands”.

Among the PTPA’s complaints are the suppression of competition between tournaments, which it says reduces prize money, a draconian ranking points system, an unsustainable schedule and financial exploitation of players.

It also accused the governing bodies of disregarding player welfare by forcing athletes to compete late at night and in extreme heat, while the PTPA branded anti-doping practices an invasion of privacy.

They are taking action against the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), International Tennis Federation (ITF) and International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).

The complaint is being brought by the PTPA and 12 players – including Djokovic’s co-founder Vasek Pospisil and Nick Kyrgios – “on behalf of the entire player population”.

Executive director of the PTPA Ahmad Nassar said: “Tennis is broken. Behind the glamorous veneer that the defendants promote, players are trapped in an unfair system that exploits their talent, suppresses their earnings, and jeopardises 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.”

Pospisil, a former Wimbledon doubles champion and quarter-finalist in singles, said: “This is not just about money, it’s about fairness, safety, and basic human dignity.

“I’m one of the more fortunate players and I’ve still had to sleep in my car when travelling to matches early on in my career. Imagine an NFL player being told that he had to sleep in his car at an away game? It’s absurd and would never happen, obviously. No other major sport treats its athletes this way.

“The governing bodies force us into unfair contracts, impose inhumane schedules, and punish us for speaking out. The legal actions taken today are about fixing tennis for today’s players and future generations.

“It’s time for accountability, real reform, and a system that protects and empowers players. All stakeholders deserve a sport that operates with fairness and integrity.”

The International Tennis Integrity Authority has told Sky Sports News it has received the claim from the Professional Tennis Players’ Association, while the ITF is not commenting on the matter.

Sky Sports are attempting to contact the ATP and WTA for comment.