The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), co-founded by Novak Djokovic, and 22 players have initiated legal proceedings targeting the top regulatory organizations in tennis, according to ESPN. The lawsuits, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, are directed at the ATP, WTA, International Tennis Federation (ITF), and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).
According to the PTPA, these organizations function as a “cartel,” enforcing restrictive policies that harm players. The complaint, totaling 163 pages, accuses the governing bodies of monopolistic behavior, systemic abuse, and neglect of player welfare. Twelve players, including PTPA co-founder Vasek Pospisil and Nick Kyrgios, are named as plaintiffs.
In an official statement, the PTPA expressed frustration after years of attempting to achieve reform through dialogue. “This step was taken after exhausting all good-faith efforts,” the statement read. It further explained that the lawsuits, filed with the assistance of international law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, extend beyond the U.S. to courts in the U.K. and EU. The goal, the PTPA states, is to protect current and future players from longstanding abuses.
Widespread support from top players
The PTPA says its legal actions are supported by more than 250 players from both the men’s and women’s tours, including the majority of the current top 20. Executive Director Ahmad Nassar didn’t hold back, stating: “The system is broken. Beneath the polished image tennis projects, players face exploitation, suppressed income, and health risks.” He added that conversations and negotiations have failed, leaving legal intervention as the only option.
Nick Kyrgios is one of the plaintiffs (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Nassar emphasized that the lawsuit is not aimed at disrupting the sport, but rather preserving it: “We are doing this to ensure tennis remains sustainable and fair for future generations.”
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According to ESPN, apart from the mentioned players, Reilly Opelka, Sorana Cirstea, and 8 other players have been named as plaintiffs in the U.S. filing. Meanwhile, American doubles specialist Christian Harrison, four-time WTA doubles champion Ingrid Neel and current world No. 76 Corentin Moutet are involved with the two other suits.
“The main concern was, ‘What will the repercussions be for this, especially from the ATP and the WTA?'” Pospisil told ESPN. “Many didn’t want to put their name out there and wanted to err on the side of caution.”
Key allegations against Tennis authorities
Nassar outlined the core issues driving the lawsuit in a social media post. The PTPA accuses tennis’ governing bodies of:
- Abusing scheduling power
- Misusing player data and fostering betting collusion
- Manipulating prize money distribution
- Creating a hostile working environment
- Engaging in conflicts of interest
- Violating health and safety standards
- Conducting invasive investigations that breach privacy
The PTPA has called on all stakeholders to work together to reform the sport and create better conditions for its athletes. Nassar concluded: “We’re ready to collaborate with anyone who’s serious about changing the sport and securing its future.“
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What have the ATP, ITF and WTA said?
According to ESPN, the ATP responded to the lawsuit on Tuesday with a firm denial. In a statement, the organization said, “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 also highlighted what it called “transformative changes for players,” pointing to recent increases in prize money and contributions to player pension funds.
Meanwhile, an ITF spokesperson told ESPN that the federation had no comment on the matter. On the other hand, both the WTA and ITIA have not yet issued any public statements regarding the lawsuits.
