Players accuse tennis governing bodies of running ‘cartel’ in lawsuit.
The player advocacy organisation founded by Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil has launched a lawsuit against the governing bodies of professional tennis, marking an escalation in its battle to secure better rights for players.
The six-year-old Professional Tennis Players Association, which has struggled to drive change from outside the system, is now pursuing legal action against the ATP Tour, WTA Tour, the International Tennis Federation and the International Tennis Integrity Agency. The 163‑page complaint, filed in the US district court for the southern district of New York, lists 12 current and former players as plaintiffs, including Djokovic, Pospisil, Nick Kyrgios and Sorana Cirstea.
It alleges that the governing bodies have systematically suppressed competition, manipulated prize‑money structures and imposed restrictive ranking systems that prevent players from seeking alternative earnings. The lawsuit also accuses the ITIA of violating player rights through invasive anti-doping and anti-corruption practices.
In a statement announcing the lawsuit, the PTPA described the legal action as a necessary step after years of failed attempts to push for reform. “Following years of good-faith efforts to reform professional tennis, the PTPA has taken decisive legal action,” it said. “The lawsuits expose systemic abuse, anti-competitive practices, and a blatant disregard for player welfare that have persisted for decades.”
The lawsuit, a copy of which has been obtained by the Guardian, argues that the governing bodies function as a “cartel”, enforcing a rigid economic system that keeps players’ earnings artificially low. It highlights an example from Indian Wells, where the billionaire tournament owner Larry Ellison was blocked from increasing prize money because of ATP and WTA regulations. The plaintiffs contend that this system prevents tournaments from competing for talent and forces players into unfair contracts.
“Tennis is broken,” Ahmad Nassar, the PTPA executive director, said in a statement. “Behind the glamorous veneer that the defendants promote, players are trapped in an unfair system that exploits their talent, suppresses their earnings, and jeopardises their health and safety.”
The ranking system is another major point of contention. Players earn ranking points only by competing in ATP- and WTA-sanctioned events, which the PTPA argues forces them into an unsustainable schedule of 45 weeks per year. Additionally, the governing bodies impose non-compete clauses and fines for players who participate in alternative tournaments.
Beyond financial issues, the lawsuit also highlights concerns about player welfare. The PTPA claims that the governing bodies have disregarded player health by forcing athletes to compete in extreme heat and late at night, citing recent incidents at the Australian Open and US Open.