Djokovic's organization files a complaint against tennis governing bodies: "No major sport treats athletes this way."

Arthur Millot

le 18/03/2025 à 15h32

2 min to read

Djokovic Kyrgios Pospisil

The BBC reported that a complaint has been filed by the PTPA and 12 players, including Djokovic, his co-founder Vasek Pospisil, and Nick Kyrgios. This complaint targets tennis governing bodies such as the ITF, ITIA, ATP, and WTA.

The PTPA is an organization formed in 2020 aimed at increasing player power and reducing the control of governing bodies.

The organization has initiated legal proceedings in the UK and the EU to end what it considers "the unchecked authority of sports governing bodies."

Among the issues they highlight are:

- Governing bodies acting as "a cartel" by making agreements with tournaments that cap prize money and prevent potential competitors from entering the market,
- A ranking system deemed "draconian," as it forces players to participate in tournaments to build their status and reputation as professionals,
- An "unsustainable" schedule lasting 11 months a year, forcing players to compete in excessive heat and at late hours,
- The type of balls that change regularly, leading to serious injuries (wrist, elbow, shoulder),
- Governing bodies controlling image rights, diverting money from players' pockets,
- The ITIA accused of a "blatant invasion of privacy" for searching the phones of players suspected of corruption or doping violations.

"I am one of the luckiest players, and I still had to sleep in my car when traveling to matches early in my career.

Imagine an NFL player being subjected to this. It's absurd and would never happen. No other major sport treats its athletes this way.

Behind the glamorous veneer that advocates promote, players are trapped in an unfair system that exploits their talent, suppresses their earnings, and jeopardizes their health and safety.

We have exhausted all options for reform through dialogue, and the governing bodies have left us no choice but to seek accountability in court.

Fixing these systemic failures is not about disrupting tennis. It's about saving it for future generations of players and fans," Pospisil stated, as reported by the BBC.