The ATP has fired back with a detailed rebuttal after Novak Djokovic, Nick Kyrgios, and others, through the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA), launched a bombshell lawsuit against tennis’ governing bodies. Co-founded by Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil in 2020, the PTPA is suing the ATP, WTA, ITF, and ITIA, alleging decades of “systemic abuse, anti-competitive behavior, and outright neglect of player welfare.” The 12 plaintiffs—including Djokovic, Pospisil, and Kyrgios—claim the sport’s structure rigs everything from prize money and rankings to schedules and privacy against players.
The PTPA’s 146-page filing, packed with eight specific gripes, accuses the establishment of colluding to stifle competition, capping earnings, enforcing grueling calendars, and exploiting players financially. In response, the ATP unleashed a 320-word statement, slamming the suit as “entirely without merit” and rejecting the charges outright. “Since 1990, ATP has driven men’s tennis’ global rise,” it begins, touting its 50-50 player-tournament governance model. It highlights a $70 million (£53.8m) jump in player pay over five years, thanks to a prize money formula, record on-site cash, and bigger bonus pools—plus transparency via audits and a Baseline program guaranteeing income for the top 250 singles players.
The ATP insists players, as independent contractors, hold “extensive control” over their careers, dismissing PTPA’s narrative as “misinformation.” It takes a swipe at the union’s five-year track record, saying it’s “struggled to find a meaningful role” and calling the lawsuit predictable. “We’ll fight this hard,” the ATP vows, framing itself as the sport’s steady hand amid the PTPA’s “division and distraction.”
The WTA, meanwhile, called the action “regrettable and misguided,” promising a fierce defense. It stressed its nonprofit status and player-tournament parity, noting elected player reps shape every board decision. Citing a $400 million pay boost, a push for equal prize money, new investments, and pioneering maternity benefits, the WTA argued its model—backed by generations of athletes—delivers. “This baseless case pulls focus from our mission,” it warned, signaling a united front with the ATP against the PTPA’s rebellion.
