novak djokovic He has severed ties with the Professional Tennis Players Association, the players’ union he co-founded, saying, “It has become clear that my values and vision no longer align with the current direction of the organization.”
24-time Grand Slam champion starts separate organization with Canadian player Vasek Pospisil In 2021. He said his goal is to offer representation for players who are independent contractors in a largely individual sport.
One of the goals made clear along the way was to become a full union that negotiates the collective bargaining agreements that exist in team sports, although that kind of thing has not happened.
24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic said on Sunday on x She had “ongoing concerns regarding transparency, governance and the way my voice and image have been represented.”
The PTPA filed a class-action lawsuit in March against the women’s and men’s tours, the International Tennis Federation and the Sports Integrity Agency, accusing the organizations of “systemic abuse, anti-competitive practices and blatant disregard for player welfare.” Four Grand Slam tournaments were later added as defendants.
Djokovic was not listed as a plaintiff when the suit was filed; Pospisil, now retired, and other players.
That’s because, as Djokovic said in March, “I want other players to step up.”
The lawsuit says players should have access to more earnings, arguing that the governing bodies that oversee the four Grand Slam tournaments – Wimbledon, US Open, French Open and Australian Open – and other professional events “limit tournament awards with prize money and limit players’ ability to earn money off the court.”
Djokovic said on Sunday, “He will continue to focus on his tennis, his family and contributing to the game in ways that reflect my principles and integrity. I wish the players and everyone involved the best moving forward, but for me, this chapter is now closed.”
