Novak Djokovic’s player advocacy organisation, Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), has launched a lawsuit against the governing bodies of professional tennis, alleging systematic exploitation and suppression of competition.
The six-year-old PTPA, which represents current and former players including Djokovic, Vasek Pospisil, Nick Kyrgios, and Sorana Cirstea, claims that the ATP Tour, WTA Tour, International Tennis Federation (ITF), and International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) have manipulated prize-money structures, imposed restrictive ranking systems, and suppressed player earnings.
The lawsuit argues that the governing bodies function as a “cartel”, keeping players’ earnings artificially low through rigid economic systems. 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.
Players face unsustainable schedules of 45 weeks per year, non-compete clauses, and fines for participating in alternative tournaments. The PTPA also claims that governing bodies have disregarded player health by forcing athletes to compete in extreme heat and late at night.
The ITIA is accused of operating with little accountability, subjecting players to intrusive searches, repeated drug tests, and lengthy interrogations without legal representation. The lawsuit suggests these measures are used as a tool of control rather than genuine efforts to maintain integrity in the sport.
Djokovic has been vocal about the need for a fairer system, arguing that players deserve a larger share of the sport’s multibillion-dollar revenue. If successful, the lawsuit could force major structural changes in professional tennis and pave the way for greater player autonomy.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/mar/18/tennis-lawsuit-novak-djokovic