Djokovic cuts ties with player union he co-founded

Novak Djokovic claims to have “completed his separation” from the Professional Tennis Players Association, which he co-founded, citing concerns about “transparency and governance.”

The breakaway player union was established in 2021 by Serbian tennis player Vasek Pospisil and Canadian tennis player Djokovic, 38.

The PTPA filed a lawsuit against tennis’s governing bodies, including the ATP and WTA tours, in March 2025, alleging that the practice was “anti-competitive practices and blatant disregard for player welfare.”

Both the WTA and ATP expressed strong opposition to the accusations and pledged to defend their positions.

Djokovic, who has won 24 Grand Slam titles, stated at the time that he disagreed with the PTPA’s entire case and has since ended his association with the group.

Djokovic stated on X: “I have decided to completely withdraw from the Professional Tennis Players Association” after giving it some thought.

“This decision is based on ongoing concerns about governance, transparency, and the representation of my voice and image.

I’m proud of the vision that Vasek and I had when we founded the PTPA, which gave players a more powerful, independent voice, but it’s clear that my values and approach do not align with the organization’s current direction.

“I’ll keep putting my mind on my tennis, my family, and making contributions that reflect my values and integrity.” As they progress, I wish the players and those involved the best, but for me, this chapter is now over.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) demanded a stop to “invasive searches of personal devices and random middle-of-the-night drug tests” and put an end to what it called an “unsustainable” schedule.

Additionally, the legal action claimed that there is collusion between the tours and the competition, which results in artificially limiting prize money.

The PTPA and 12 players, including Australia’s former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios and Djokovic’s co-founder Pospisil, brought the complaint. They claimed that the action was “invoking the entire player population.”