Tennis: Player union complains against “Kartell”

The PTPA playing union co -founded by Novak Djokovic expresses serious accusations against the leading tennis organizations and initiates legal steps worldwide. The union accuses the associations ATP and WTA and the World Association ITF in a message to form a “cartel” and a “corrupt, illegal and abusive system”.

Therefore, more than a dozen tennis professionals in the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union had been submitted. Among other things, the focus of the symptoms is high burdens for professionals, a season that is too long and arrangements to prevent competitions between the tournaments. In addition, players could hardly participate in alternative events due to a restrictive ranking system.

ATP defends itself against the allegations

“Tennis is broken,” said PTPA general director Ahmad Nassar. “Behind the glamorous facade with which the accused advertise, the players are trapped in an unfair system that exploits their talent, presses their income and endangers their health and security.”

The PTPA explains all options for reforms in dialogue with the associations. “The removal of these systemic defects is not about destroying tennis – it is about saving it for future generations of players and fans,” said Nassar.

The ATP defends itself against the allegations. “We decisively reject the PTPA’s claims, consider the lawsuit to be completely unfounded and will vigorously defend our position,” said the men’s organization in a statement and in turn raised allegations against the player union, which “consistently set up and distract through misinformation instead of progress”. The Women’s Association WTA called the PTPA’s approach “regrettable and miscalculated”.

In addition to Djokovic, Vasek Pospisil is one of the co -initiators

The steps are also directed against the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), which, among other things, takes care of processing manipulation and doping in tennis. The ITIA confirmed the lawsuit at the request of the news agency dpa.

Djokovic had initiated the PTPA together with the Canadian professional Vasek Pospisil, the union was founded in 2021. The Serbian Grand Slam record winner is not mentioned in the press release, but it sits in the Executive Committee of the PTPA. His support in this matter is expressly available, said PTPA spokesman David Cooper.

“It’s not about money, it’s about fairness, security and basic human dignity,” said co -founder Pospisil. He also stayed in his car at the beginning of his career, even though he was one of the happier players. “No other great sport treats his athletes in this way.