Carlos Alcaraz Slams Djokovic-Led PTPA, Distances Himself from Lawsuit

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The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), co-founded by Novak Djokovic, has initiated a class-action lawsuit against the sport's governing bodies, alleging mismanagement and inequality within tennis. The PTPA contends that the ATP, WTA, ITF, and ITIA have established an inequitable system that takes advantage of players and diminishes their earnings. Additionally, these organizations are accused of failing to adequately support the development of tennis.

When Carlos Alcaraz was questioned about the lawsuit during a pre-match press conference for the Miami Open, he firmly expressed his lack of support for the PTPA's actions.

“There are aspects I agree with and others I do not,” he remarked. “However, the key point is that I do not support this lawsuit. That’s all.”

Alcaraz further noted that he was not informed about the lawsuit before this and only learned of it through social media. “Honestly, it was surprising for me, as no one mentioned it to me. I just came across it on social media,” he stated.

Carlos Alcaraz cited in PTPA lawsuit

Unexpectedly, Alcaraz was mentioned in the PTPA lawsuit. On page 71, within a section addressing inadequate scheduling, Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, and Iga Swiatek are cited as stating, “Carlos Alcaraz criticized the Tours’ schedule, asserting that the Governing Body Defendants ‘are going to kill (players) in some way.’”

This statement originates from a press conference at the Laver Cup where Alcaraz spoke last year. The lawsuit notes his comments: “Many players (want) to play more — or even more. A lot of players feel that the calendar is acceptable. However, many players (say) it’s congested with numerous tournaments throughout the year,” he remarked. “I’m the type of player who (believes) there are too many tournaments in the year, including mandatory ones, and likely in the coming years, there will be even more tournaments and mandatory events. So, I mean, they are probably going to exhaust us in some way.”

Since that time, the ATP and WTA have responded, firmly rejecting the allegations. The lawsuit follows widespread frustration among players, including Djokovic, regarding the investigations into the doping cases of Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek. Swiatek received a one-month ban, while Sinner is currently serving a three-month suspension after reaching an agreement with WADA. Djokovic and several other players have publicly criticized the investigations for their lack of transparency and have highlighted the discrepancies in penalties compared to other players who received longer bans for similar doping violations.

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