The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) has reacted to the news of the lawsuit filed against it by the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA).
The independent association, founded by Novak Djokovic in 2021, has filed documents in the US District Court in New York and has requested a jury trial.
The complaint is written on 146 pages, and according to BBC journalists who have access to the documentation, it claims that “professional tennis players are hostages to a rigged game” and that they have “limited control over their personal careers and brands”. They complain about the tournament schedule, the ranking system and the control that the ATP and WTA have over the personal rights of players.
As expected, the ATP did not remain silent and responded sharply to the complaint addressed to them.
“Since the inception of the ATP Tour in 1990, the ATP has played a leading role in the global development of men’s professional tennis. For more than three decades, the ATP’s governance structure has been 50-50, with players and tournaments having an equal say in shaping the sport. Recent years have brought transformative change for tennis players. The introduction of a prize money formula, record prize money and new bonus funds have contributed to a significant increase in prize money ($70 million in the last five years). The introduction of annual, independent audits has given players complete transparency into the finances of ATP events. The ATP’s Basic Income Program introduced a minimum guaranteed income for the top 250 singles players, providing unprecedented financial security in professional tennis. While the ATP has remained focused on implementing reforms that benefit players, the PTPA has chosen division and distraction through misinformation rather than progress. Five years after its founding in 2020, the PTPA has struggled to establish a meaningful role in tennis, so the decision to file a lawsuit at this time is no surprise. We categorically reject the PTPA’s allegations, believe the lawsuit is completely without merit, and will vigorously defend our position. The ATP remains committed to working in the best interests of the game – towards continued growth, financial stability, and the best possible future for our players, tournaments, and fans”. says the ATP statement.
We’ll see how this all plays out and whether there will be a series of statements from both sides or whether everything will be resolved amicably.
