Novak Djokovic’s co-founded the players’ union, which has filed a lawsuit against tennis’s governing bodies, alleging “anti-competitive practices and a blatant disregard for player welfare.”
The Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA) is asking for a jury trial at the US District Court in New York.
Professional tennis players are “stuck in a rigged game,” according to the 163-page lawsuit, which has been seen by BBC Sport.
It criticizes the control over image rights, ranking, and schedule.
The PTPA and 12 players, including Nick Kyrgios and Vasek Pospisil, are bringing the complaint. The PTPA claims to be acting “in the interests of the entire player population.”
The PTPA, which was established in 2020, aims to reduce the governing bodies’ power and increase the players’ authority.
The men’s professional body, the ATP Tour, declared that the case was “entirely without merit” and promised to “vigorously defend” its position. The men’s professional body also “strongly rejects the premise of the PTPA’s claims.”
It accused the PTPA of “consistently choosing division and distraction through misinformation over progress” and said the ATP “remains committed to working in the best interests of the game.”
The WTA, which oversees the women’s tour, added that it would continue to support its position and that it would defend its position in a statement.
The organization has also begun legal proceedings in the UK and the EU to end what it perceives as “unchecked authority of the sport’s governing bodies.”
The PTPA’s executive director, Ahmad Nassar, declared to the BBC in October that the organization would not have any reservations going down this path.
Players are ensnared in an unfair system that exploits their talent, reduces their earnings, and risks their health and safety, according to the defendants’ claim.
We have exhausted all means of reform through dialogue, and the courts have left us with no choice but to seek accountability.
“Removing these systemic failures is about saving tennis for the next generation of players and fans,” says the statement.
The ITIA praised the proposed legal action, adding that it is “proud” of its “role in making a sport that is clean and fair.”
What does the PTPA ask for?
The ranking points system, which the union calls “draconian,” effectively forces players to compete in their tournaments to improve their standing and reputation.
The lawsuit also criticizes a “unsustainable” schedule that spans 11 months of the year and can make players compete in the early morning or in the middle of the day.
It claims that players frequently change the types of balls used throughout the season, leading to serious wrist, elbow, and shoulder injuries, and that money is being diverted from players’ pockets as a result of the governing bodies’ control over image rights.
When players are searched on suspicion of corruption or doping offenses, the ITIA is accused of a “gross invasion of privacy.”
This year, the ATP Tour organizes 60 events in 29 different nations, as well as its own Challenger Tour. In addition to providing players with prize money, bonuses, and retirement plan contributions, the ATP claims to have distributed $241. million in 2023.
No major sport treats athletes in this manner, according to the statement.
Players have frequently complained that the sport, especially its four Grand Slams, do not receive a high enough portion of its revenue.
It was Djokovic’s motivation for founding the PTPA.
The Grand Slams have so far encountered too many obstacles in their quest to create a premium tour with a simplified season and better financial rewards.
According to Pospisil, the lawsuit focuses on “fairness, safety, and basic human dignity.”
“I’ve had to travel to games in my car a lot more often than I’d like to,” Pospisil continued.
“Imagine an NFL player getting the news that he had to sleep in his car during a road trip. It is absurd and never occurs. No other major sport treats its athletes in this manner.
According to Drew Tulumello of Weil, Gotshal &, Manges, the law firm that the PTPA has instructed, “It is time for free-market forces to enter professional tennis.”
The PTPA is envious of the rewards players receive in team sports like football, the NFL, baseball, and basketball, as well as the more comparable sport of golf.
Many of those who enrolled in the breakaway LIV Tour now have greater wealth than those who lost the points needed to gain entry to major championships.
The new tour dramatically altered golf as a result of Saudi Arabia’s intervention.
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