Djokovic speaks out after leaving PTPA: 'My name has been excessively exploited'

Nole unexpectedly left the group that he and Vasek Pospisil established back in 2019.

The withdrawal of Novak Djokovic from the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) — the organization he co-founded — has sparked widespread discussion in the international tennis community. Ahead of the 2026 Australian Open, the Serbian player spoke publicly for the first time, explaining the reasons behind a decision considered a turning point in the fight for players' rights.

Djokovic has long criticized how the ATP, WTA, and other tennis governing bodies treat players, arguing that their rights are not fairly protected. When founding the PTPA with Vasek Pospisil in 2019, Nole emphasized it was not an organization exclusively for male players but aimed to represent both male and female athletes.

However, the PTPA caused division from the start. While some players supported it, many others expressed concern, including Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal — two of Djokovic’s biggest rivals at the time — who did not agree with this initiative.

After years of skepticism due to limited impact, the PTPA recently drew global attention by filing a lawsuit against the ATP, WTA, International Tennis Federation (ITF), and the four Grand Slam tournaments. The lawsuit addresses issues such as prize money, alleged anti-competitive behavior, privacy rights, and the sport’s governance structure. Notably, although a co-founder, Djokovic did not sign the lawsuit.

During a press conference before the 2026 Australian Open, the 24-time Grand Slam champion stated that the media has misrepresented the PTPA as "Djokovic’s personal organization", which forced him to step away.

"I feel my name has been overly exploited in nearly every article. Whenever people think about the PTPA, they assume it’s my organization, which was never true from the beginning.", Djokovic said.

Additionally, the Grand Slam record holder admitted he does not agree with how the current leadership manages the PTPA. Nevertheless, he affirmed his hope for the organization’s success, as it would benefit all players. The 38-year-old also mentioned that the controversial lawsuit was a major reason for his departure, as he disagreed with the entire content of the complaint.

Novak Djokovic is currently competing in the Australian Open, seeded fourth. He will face Pedro Martinez in his opening match on the afternoon of January 19, Vietnam time.