'Tennis is broken': Players sue governing bodies over unfair practices

The Professional Tennis Players' Association (PTPA) has initiated legal proceedings against the governing bodies of the sport, alleging anti-competitive behavior and a lack of concern for player welfare.

Co-founded by Novak Djokovic in 2019 to empower players regarding their careers and financial opportunities, the PTPA announced on Tuesday that, after years of sincere attempts to reform professional tennis, it found it necessary to pursue legal action.

In its statement, the PTPA indicated that, in conjunction with over a dozen players, it has submitted legal documents to a New York court targeting the ATP Tour, the WTA Tour, the International Tennis Federation (ITF), and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).

"Tennis is broken," Ahmad Nassar, Executive Director of the PTPA, said in a statement. "Behind the glamorous veneer that the Defendants promote, players are trapped in an unfair system that exploits their talent, suppresses their earnings, and jeopardizes 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."

The ATP accused the PTPA of choosing "division and distraction" and having no meaningful role in the sport.

"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 said in a statement.

"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."

Legal proceedings have commenced in both Britain and the European Union, according to the PTPA.

The PTPA characterizes the various governing organizations as a "cartel," alleging that they provide "artificially low compensation to professional tennis players" and enforce a "draconian" ranking system that compels players to participate in specific tournaments.

Additionally, the organization criticizes the tournament schedule as unsustainable, claiming that players are subjected to extreme heat and often required to compete in the early morning hours. It also asserts that the selection of tennis balls by the tournaments contributes to chronic injuries and that players' privacy rights are infringed upon through random drug testing.

Before initiating the lawsuit, the PTPA reported that it engaged with over 250 players from various tours, including a significant number from the top 20 rankings in both men's and women's tennis.

"The overwhelmingly positive player feedback was a resounding confirmation -- change is needed now, and players are united in their fight for reform," the statement said.

Serbia's 24-time Grand Slam champion, Djokovic, has been a strong proponent for reform within the tennis organization, asserting that lower-ranked players are not receiving fair treatment.

"Women and men who are around 200 and lower ranked in the world, they are struggling a lot," he said in a CBS 60 Minutes interview in 2023. "They can't afford a coach, they can't afford travels, they skip tournaments, many of them leave tennis who are super talented and maybe capable of reaching great heights."

The ITIA, responsible for overseeing the anti-doping and anti-corruption initiatives within the sport, stated that it would refrain from commenting on the lawsuit filed by the PTPA. Additionally, Reuters has reached out to the ITF and WTA for their responses.