Djokovic-Led PTPA Files Landmark Antitrust Lawsuit Against ATP, WTA, ITF, and ITIA

 In a bold and potentially historic legal move, the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) — co-founded by Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil — has filed an antitrust lawsuit against tennis’s main governing bodies: the ATP, WTA, ITF, and ITIA.

The lawsuit, submitted to the European Court of Justice and also pursued in U.S. federal court, accuses the four institutions of operating as a “cartel” — coordinating policies that restrict player independence, suppress earnings, and enforce a punishing and monopolistic tournament structure.

“This case is not just about tennis,” said Pospisil in a press statement. “It’s about fairness in professional sports. The current system is structurally broken and systematically favors institutions over the athletes who drive the game.”

Core Allegations

The PTPA’s complaint highlights four main areas of concern:

1. Suppression of Earnings
   The lawsuit claims that prize money and revenue sharing in both men’s and women’s tours are kept artificially low due to centralized control and lack of bargaining power for players. Despite soaring revenues, especially at the Grand Slam level, players ranked outside the top 100 reportedly struggle to break even.

2. Unilateral Control of Schedule
   The ATP and WTA are accused of overloading the calendar without proper player consultation, leading to mental burnout and increased risk of injury. Djokovic himself cited multiple examples of top players withdrawing from key events due to “unrealistic demands.”

3. Anti-Competitive Practices
   The PTPA argues that rules and structures within the ATP, WTA, and ITF create barriers to the emergence of independent events or rival circuits, echoing claims similar to those made in other sports antitrust battles.

4. Conflict of Interest with the ITIA
   The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), which oversees doping and match-fixing investigations, is accused of lacking independence due to its financial and operational links to the very organizations it is supposed to regulate.

Institutional Response

The ATP and WTA have not yet issued a full response but released a joint statement defending their governance model:

“The tennis ecosystem has functioned for decades as a global collaboration between institutions, organizers, and players. We reject the characterization of our organizations as monopolistic or harmful to players’ interests.”

Sources inside the ITF have expressed concern over the “potential destabilization” of the sport if legal proceedings drag on through multiple jurisdictions.

Broader Implications

If successful, the lawsuit could fundamentally reshape professional tennis, paving the way for:

• Collective bargaining rights for players

• Independent player unions

• Revised revenue-sharing models

• Reformed tournament calendars and schedules

Sports law experts suggest that the case could also set precedent for other athlete-led legal actions across global sports.

Djokovic’s Legacy Beyond the Court

Though nearing the twilight of his playing career, Novak Djokovic appears determined to leave a lasting mark on the sport off the court as well.

“This is not about me,” Djokovic said in a brief statement. “This is about protecting future generations of players who deserve a voice — and a fair share.”