Tennis normally happens on court but Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios are seeking to shift the action to in court.
The player organisation set up by Djokovic and Canada’s Vasek Pospisil, supported by Kyrgios and multiple other Australian players, has launched legal action against tennis’s governing bodies.
Founded in 2021, the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) cites its mission as supporting and safeguarding professional tennis players.
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But it has found driving change from outside the system very difficult and is now taking a legal route against the ATP and WTA, which organise the men’s and women’s tours, the International Tennis Federation, which runs team competitions and much else, and the International Tennis Integrity Agency, which oversees the sport’s anti-doping and anti-corruption system.
“Following years of good-faith efforts to reform professional tennis, the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) has taken decisive legal action,” a statement read.
“Today, the PTPA, alongside over a dozen professional tennis players and on behalf of the entire player population, and renowned international law firm and historical player advocates Weil, Gotshal and Manges LLP, initiated a series of legal actions in the US, UK and EU against the sport’s governing bodies.
“The lawsuits expose systemic abuse, anti-competitive practices, and a blatant disregard for player welfare that have persisted for decades.”
Twelve current and former players, including Pospisil and Kyrgios along with Australians Anastasia Rodionova and John-Patrick Smith, are listed as plaintiffs “on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated” and the Djokovic-led PTPA.
Pospisil claims the PTPA “spoke to over 300 players … and everyone was extremely supportive, including the top players”.
“The ATP/WTA has spread so much fear over the years that it’s not easy to put your name on this publicly. Player support for this initiative is undeniable,” he said.
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.
The ATP and WTA both issued responses criticising the legal action and highlighting the “equal voice” players have on both tours, as well as advances in prize money and other areas.
The ATP also hit back at the schedule claims, saying players “as independent contractors have retained extensive control over their schedules”.
Djokovic’s PTPA wants change. Credit: Getty Images “While ATP has remained focused on delivering reforms that benefit players at multiple levels, the PTPA has consistently chosen division and distraction through misinformation over progress,” the men’s tour said.
“Five years on from its inception in 2020, the PTPA has struggled to establish a meaningful role in tennis, making its decision to pursue legal action at this juncture unsurprising.
“We strongly reject the premise of the PTPA’s claims, believe the case to be entirely without merit, and will vigorously defend our position.
“ATP remains committed to working in the best interests of the game — towards continued growth, financial stability, and the best possible future for our players, tournaments, and fans.”
The WTA said the legal action is “both regrettable and misguided”, also declaring it would defend their position “vigorously”.
“The WTA is fully committed to continuing to develop and evolve the structure and operations of professional women’s tennis, listening closely as always to the views of our players,” it added.
“Contesting this baseless legal case will divert time, attention and resources from our core mission to the detriment of our players and the sport as a whole.”
Pospisil, a former Wimbledon doubles champion and singles quarter-finalist, said in the PTPA statement their legal action goes beyond money.
“It’s about fairness, safety, and basic human dignity,” he said.
“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,” he said.
“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.”