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Novak Djokovic is cutting ties with the Professional Tennis Players Association, a group he co-founded that sued the sport's governing bodies last year, writing on social media Sunday that “my values ​​and approach no longer fit with the current direction of the organization.”
The 24-time Grand Slam champion announced at the 2020 US Open that he and now-retired Canadian player Vasek Pospisil are launching the PTPA. They said they are committed to providing representation for players who are independent contractors in a predominantly individual sport.
One of the goals that became clear along the way was to become a kind of full-fledged union that would negotiate collective bargaining agreements similar to those that exist in team sports, although this did not happen.
Djokovic said on X on Sunday that he has “ongoing concerns about transparency, governance and the way my voice and image have been presented.”
In March, the PTPA filed a class-action lawsuit against the women's and men's tours, the International Tennis Federation and the Sports Integrity Agency, accusing the organizations of “systematic abuse, anti-competitive practices and flagrant disregard for player welfare.” Participants from four Grand Slam tournaments were later added as defendants.
Djokovic was not listed as a plaintiff at the time the lawsuit was filed; Pospisil and other players were there.
That's because Djokovic said in March: “I want other players to step up.”
The lawsuit says players should have access to more income, arguing that governing bodies that oversee the four Grand Slam tournaments – Wimbledon, the US Open, the French Open and the Australian Open – and other professional events “limit the amount of prize money awarded in the tournaments and limit the ability of players to earn money off the court.”
Djokovic said on Sunday that he will “continue to focus on his tennis, his family and contributing to the sport in ways that reflect my principles and integrity. I wish the players and those involved all the best as they move forward, but for me this chapter is closed.”
