‘Basic human dignity’ – Nick Kyrgios among tennis stars to launch astonishing legal action against sport’s governing bodies
The player organisation set up by Novak Djokovic has launched legal action against the governing bodies of tennis, accusing them of 'systemic abuse and corruption'.
Founded by Djokovic and soon-to-be-retired Canadian star Vasek Pospisil in 2021, the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) cites its mission as supporting and safeguarding tennis pros.
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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, WTA, International Tennis Federation (ITF) and International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), which oversees the sport's anti-doping and anti-corruption system.
As many as 12 current and former players, including Pospisil and Nick Kyrgios, are listed as plaintiffs along with the PTPA.
The PTPA's statement, released on Tuesday, March 18, read: "Following years of good-faith efforts to reform professional tennis, the Professional Tennis Players Association has taken decisive legal action.
"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 & Manges LLP, initiated a series of legal actions in the US, UK and EU against the sport's governing bodies.
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"The lawsuits expose systemic abuse, anti-competitive practices, and a blatant disregard for player welfare that have persisted for decades."
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 tennis' 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.
According to ESPN, in the 162-page complaint filed in the Southern District of New York, the PTPA and associated players further accused the ATP, WTA, ITF and ITIA of working together as a 'cartel' and colluding with one another.
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Pospisil, a former Wimbledon doubles champion and singles quarter-finalist, suggested the action is 'not just about money,' but about 'fairness, safety, and basic human dignity.'
He went on to compare the conditions that some tennis players face with athletes in other sports, including in the NFL.
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Pospisil 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.
"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.
"It's time for accountability, real reform, and a system that protects and empowers players. All stakeholders deserve a sport that operates with fairness and integrity."
Ahmad Nassar, Executive Director of the PTPA, suggested in a statement of his own that 'tennis is broken'.
"Behind the glamorous veneer that the defendants promote, players are trapped in an unfair system that exploits their talent, suppresses their earnings, and jeopardises their health and safety," the statement read.
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"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 hit back strongly, citing the role of players in achieving record prize money and improved financial security and vowing to 'vigorously defend our position'.
A statement read: "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.
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"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 echoed the ATP, saying: "The PTPA's action is both regrettable and misguided, and we will defend our position vigorously in due course."
Meanwhile, the ITIA said in a statement: "The International Tennis Integrity Agency notes the PTPA’s proposed action against tennis’ governing bodies, including the ITIA.
"Credible international sport requires robust anti-doping and anti-corruption programmes, and we are proud of our role in contributing to a clean and fair sport.
"The ITIA seeks to uphold the highest standards in our work, following best practice and appropriate rules throughout the management of cases, from intelligence gathering through to investigations and, where applicable, sanctions.
"For our part, we continue to welcome opportunities to engage with any and all members of the sport, including players, coaches, support staff, officials, and media, to build trust in tennis' anti-doping and anti-corruption programmes."
A spokesperson for the ITF added: "We can confirm we have received a letter detailing the PTPA’s legal action and will take the appropriate time to consider our response.
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"As a not for profit organisation and global guardian of the game, the ITF’s purpose is to ensure the growth and sustainability of tennis as a global sport.
"We reinvest 90% of our income into the global development of the game, via our 213 member National Associations."
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