A tennis gamers’ union co-founded by Novak Djokovic has began authorized motion towards the game’s governing our bodies.
The Skilled Tennis Gamers’ Affiliation (PTPA), which was based in 2021 and cites its mission as supporting and safeguarding skilled tennis gamers, has filed papers at america District Court docket in New York.
The lawsuit says “skilled tennis gamers are caught in a rigged sport” which supplies them “restricted management over their very own careers and types”.
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Among the many PTPA’s complaints are the suppression of competitors between tournaments, which it says reduces prize cash, a draconian rating factors system, an unsustainable schedule and monetary exploitation of gamers.
It additionally accused the governing our bodies of disregarding participant welfare by forcing athletes to compete late at night time and in excessive warmth, whereas the PTPA branded anti-doping practices an invasion of privateness.
They’re taking motion towards the Affiliation of Tennis Professionals (ATP), Ladies’s Tennis Affiliation (WTA), Worldwide Tennis Federation (ITF) and Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company (ITIA).
The criticism is being introduced by the PTPA and 12 gamers – together with Djokovic’s co-founder Vasek Pospisil and Nick Kyrgios – “on behalf of your entire participant inhabitants”.
Govt director of the PTPA Ahmad Nassar stated: “Tennis is damaged. Behind the glamorous veneer that the defendants promote, gamers are trapped in an unfair system that exploits their expertise, suppresses their earnings, and jeopardises their well being and security.
“We’ve got exhausted all choices for reform by way of dialogue, and the governing our bodies have left us no alternative however to hunt accountability by way of the courts. Fixing these systemic failures is not about disrupting tennis – it is about saving it for the generations of gamers and followers to return.”
Pospisil, a former Wimbledon doubles champion and quarter-finalist in singles, stated: “This isn’t nearly cash, it is about equity, security, and fundamental human dignity.
“I am one of many extra lucky gamers and I’ve nonetheless needed to sleep in my automobile when travelling to matches early on in my profession. Think about an NFL participant being advised that he needed to sleep in his automobile at an away sport? It is absurd and would by no means occur, clearly. No different main sport treats its athletes this manner.
“The governing our bodies drive us into unfair contracts, impose inhumane schedules, and punish us for talking out. The authorized actions taken in the present day are about fixing tennis for in the present day’s gamers and future generations.
“It is time for accountability, actual reform, and a system that protects and empowers gamers. All stakeholders deserve a sport that operates with equity and integrity.”
The Worldwide Tennis Integrity Authority has advised Sky Sports activities Information it has obtained the declare from the Skilled Tennis Gamers’ Affiliation, whereas the ITF isn’t commenting on the matter.
Sky Sports activities are trying to contact the ATP and WTA for remark.
