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WTA and ATP 'strongly reject' Novak Djokovic's Professional Tennis Players’ Association lawsuit filed in New York
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Published 18/03/2025 at 20:16 GMT
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The Professional Tennis Players’ Association filed for legal action against both of the sport's governing bodies, the ATP and WTA. In the lawsuit filed by the players' organisation, co-founded by Novak Djokovic, dissatisfaction with the schedule, ranking systems, and image rights were cited. Both the WTA and ATP responded, defending their efforts in the sport and hitting back at the PTPA's action.
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic (L) and Canadian Vasek Pospisil
Image credit: Getty Images
The ATP and WTA have both issued statements criticising legal action started by the players’ union, co-founded by Novak Djokovic.
The Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA) has filed papers in New York, seeking a jury trial for "anti-competitive practices and a blatant disregard for player welfare", as reported by BBC Sport.
The lawsuit has complaints regarding the schedule and ranking systems in the sport, as well as a dispute over image rights.
The lawsuit has been filed by the PTPA and 12 players, including Vasek Pospisil, who also co-founded the organisation, as well as Nick Kyrgios.
The association was formed in 2020 in order to give more control over the sport to professional players.
Both the WTA and ATP issued statements in response to the complaint, with the former calling the legal action "baseless".
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"Since the inception of the ATP Tour in 1990, ATP has played a leading role in the global growth of men’s professional tennis," begins the ATP’s statement.
"Throughout more than three decades, ATP’s 50-50 governance structure has ensured that players and tournaments have an equal voice in shaping the sport’s direction at the highest level.
"Recent years have brought about transformative changes for players. The introduction of a prize money formula, record-setting on-site prize money, and new and expanded Bonus Pools have contributed to a major increase in player compensation (up $70 million in the past five years).
"The introduction of annual, independent audits has given players full transparency over tournament financials at ATP events. ATP’s Baseline programme has introduced minimum guaranteed income for the Top 250-ranked singles players, providing unprecedented financial security in professional tennis.
"Contributions to the player pension fund have surged, while prize money at ATP Challenger Tour events has more than doubled - reinforcing ATP’s commitment to strengthening the player pathway."
The statement concludes: "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 wrote: "The WTA is a nonprofit, membership organization that exists to advance women’s tennis on behalf of players, tournaments and fans. WTA players, as equal members alongside tournaments, have an essential and influential voice in the governance of the WTA. 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.
"It is this governance model, supported by generations of athletes, that has allowed the WTA to achieve considerable progress on behalf of our players.
"Among many examples, in recent years we have committed to a $400 million increase in player compensation, set out a pathway to pay equality at our major WTA events, secured new investment to fuel the long-term growth of the sport, and launched the first comprehensive maternity benefits for independent, self-employed athletes in the history of women’s sports.
"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. 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."
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