India, March 19 -- Tensions within the tennis community have escalated significantly following a lawsuit initiated by the Professional Tennis Players' Association (PTPA), co-founded by Novak Djokovic. The PTPA is taking legal action against the sport's governing bodies, alleging that they operate professional tennis as a "cartel."

Amid scrutiny regarding the perceived favoritism shown to world No.1 Jannik Sinner in his doping case, the ATP, which oversees the men's tour, is now facing legal challenges alongside the WTA (women's tour), ITF (International Tennis Federation), and ITIA (International Tennis Integrity Agency) concerning various governance matters. The lawsuit, submitted to a federal court in New York on Tuesday, includes a dozen current and former players as plaintiffs and identifies the four Grand Slam organizers as "co-conspirators."

Founded in 2020 by 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and former top-25 Canadian player Vasek Pospisil, the PTPA asserts that it has engaged with over 250 male and female players, including a significant number of the top 20, who have expressed their support.

"For far too long, players have been compelled to endure a flawed system that neglects our welfare, undervalues our contributions, and fails to provide us with genuine representation," Pospisil, who is also among the plaintiffs, stated on X.

The 163-page lawsuit addresses a range of issues, including limitations on player compensation, restrictions on a free market for tournaments and earnings, and "unsustainable" scheduling practices. It also criticizes the ITIA for being "arbitrary and selective," highlighting Sinner's lenient treatment following a positive test result.

Player Compensation

The lawsuit asserts that the tours allocate less than 20% of their revenue to players. It also points out the limitations on tournament prize money, which, despite frequent increases by the tours and Grand Slam events, remains capped. For instance, the lawsuit references a situation in 2012 when billionaire Larry Ellison, the owner of the BNP Paribas Open, attempted to raise the tournament's prize pool beyond the allowed limit set by the tours, but his proposal was denied.

Lack of Free Market

The PTPA further alleges that the governing bodies are colluding to limit players' opportunities to compete and earn income outside of the tours. This includes restrictions on unsanctioned tournaments, exhibitions, and exclusive sponsorship agreements with select companies for their racquets, bags, and apparel.

The lawsuit notes, "If a brand like Louis Vuitton or Gucci were to offer a player a lucrative endorsement deal to appear at center court in Indian Wells with a racket bag featuring their logo, the player would be forced to decline the offer."

Scheduling Issues

The congested schedule, which includes over 50 tournaments in a season on the ATP and WTA tours, along with an even higher number at the Challenger and ITF levels, has been a concern voiced by many players. Top-ranked players are required to participate in mandatory events, while lower-ranked players must compete continuously at the lower levels just to make a living.

The lawsuit emphasizes the penalties for players who withdraw from tournaments, noting that "the Tour allows players to withdraw from events only twice per season before incurring fines," and it addresses the rankings system. For example, Iga Swiatek lost her No. 1 ranking to Aryna Sabalenka while she was absent from three tournaments last year. The lawsuit states, "A player's ranking is influenced not only by their performance in Tour events but also by their willingness to compete."

'Selective' Sinner Case

The lawsuit also aimed at the ITIA, the governing body responsible for anti-doping and anti-corruption in tennis, criticizing its "heavy-handed approach" in addressing player conduct and specific cases. Additionally, it highlighted the "arbitrary and selective" manner in which Sinner, the Italian world No. 1, avoided a lengthy suspension despite testing positive twice last year.

"The investigation did not extend for over a year concerning a prominent player who had not expressed any concerns regarding the cartel," the lawsuit states.

All the organizations mentioned released statements on Wednesday refuting the claims made by the PTPA.

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