The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) sues the Big Four tennis governing body organizations!

The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) issued a press release on March 18 announcing that it had filed a series of legal actions against a "cartel" made up of tennis governing bodies. These governing bodies are accused of operating a "corrupt, illegal and abusive system" that constitutes a monopoly.

The defendants include all of the sport's main governing bodies: the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the Men's Professional Tennis Association (ATP), the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), which oversees the sport's anti-doping and anti-corruption efforts.

"Tennis has gone wrong," PTPA Executive Director Ahmad Nasser said in a press release, "Behind the flamboyant façade that the defendants proclaim, players are trapped in an unfair system that exploits their talents, suppresses their earnings, and jeopardizes their health and safety." We have exhausted all options for reform through dialogue, and these governing bodies have left us with no choice but to pursue accountability through the courts. ”

The Men's Professional Tennis Association (ATP) immediately issued a statement in response: "While the ATP has been focused on implementing reforms that will benefit players at multiple levels, the PTPA has chosen to create divisions and distract by spreading misinformation rather than pushing for progress." In the five years since its inception in 2020, the PTPA has struggled to establish a meaningful role in the tennis world, so it's no surprise that at this juncture it decided to take legal action.

"We strongly oppose the PTPA's so-called assertions, arguing that this case has no legal basis at all, and we will actively defend our position. The ATP remains committed to working in the best interests of the sport, driving its continued development, maintaining financial stability, and creating the best possible future for our players, tournaments, and fans. ”

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) also posted a statement on social media: "The PTPA's actions are both regrettable and misguided, and we will actively defend our position in due course." ”

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) issued a statement saying: "We have received a letter detailing the PTPA's legal action and will take appropriate time to consider a response." As a not-for-profit organisation and guardian of the global sport of tennis, the ITF's mission is to ensure the growth and sustainability of tennis as a global sport. ”

In response, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) responded: "ITIA seeks to uphold the highest standards in our work, following best practice and relevant appropriate rules throughout the entire process of handling cases, from intelligence gathering to investigations and, where applicable, the imposition of sanctions." ”

PTPA was founded in 2019 by Novak Djokovic and his fellow professional footballer, Canadian Vasek Pospisil. Their mission is to form an association dedicated exclusively to the well-being and interests of players. Since the beginning of the Open era, professional tennis has been governed by various partnerships between the players, tournament organizers and administrators of the aforementioned defendants.

The plaintiffs allege that the defendants "operate like cartels by imposing a series of draconian and interrelated anti-competitive restraints and abuses." These actions are said to have included colluding with each other to reduce competition, allowing the cartel to pay "artificially low pay" to players and prevent potential competitors from entering the market.

The plaintiffs also alleged: colluding to limit the amount of bonuses; a "harsh, unsustainable" ranking system; disregard for the health and well-being of players; This is exemplified by economic exploitation and invasions of privacy – such as random drug tests and confiscation of players' mobile phones for checking.

In short, it may be the first shot of a new war in a sport known for its frequent conflicts.

(Text/Green, compiled from Tennis.com)