The participant organisation arrange by Novak Djokovic has launched authorized motion in opposition to the governing our bodies of tennis, accusing them of ‘systemic abuse and corruption’.
Based by Djokovic and soon-to-be-retired Canadian star Vasek Pospisil in 2021, the Skilled Tennis Gamers Affiliation (PTPA) cites its mission as supporting and safeguarding tennis professionals.
3
But it surely has discovered driving change from outdoors the system very troublesome, and is now taking a authorized route in opposition to the ATP, WTA, Worldwide Tennis Federation (ITF) and Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company (ITIA), which oversees the game’s anti-doping and anti-corruption system.
As many as 12 present and former gamers, together with Djokovic, Pospisil and Nick Kyrgios, are listed as plaintiffs together with the PTPA.
The PTPA’s assertion, launched on Tuesday, March 18, learn: “Following years of good-faith efforts to reform skilled tennis, the Skilled Tennis Gamers Affiliation has taken decisive authorized motion.
“Right this moment, the PTPA, alongside over a dozen skilled tennis gamers and on behalf of all the participant inhabitants, and famend worldwide regulation agency and historic participant advocates Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, initiated a sequence of authorized actions within the US, UK and EU in opposition to the game’s governing our bodies.
“The lawsuits expose systemic abuse, anti-competitive practices, and a blatant disregard for participant welfare which have persevered for many years.”
Among the many PTPA’s complaints are the suppression of competitors between tournaments, which it says reduces prize cash, a ‘draconian’ rating factors system, an unsustainable schedule and monetary exploitation of gamers.
It additionally accused tennis’ governing our bodies of disregarding participant welfare by forcing athletes to compete late at evening and in excessive warmth, whereas the PTPA branded anti-doping practices an invasion of privateness.
In response to ESPN, within the 162-page criticism filed within the Southern District of New York, the PTPA and related gamers additional accused the ATP, WTA, ITF and ITIA of working collectively as a ‘cartel’ and colluding with each other.
Pospisil, a former Wimbledon doubles champion and singles quarter-finalist, advised the motion is ‘not nearly cash,’ however about ‘equity, security, and fundamental human dignity.’
He went on to check the circumstances that some tennis gamers face with athletes in different sports activities, together with within the NFL.
3
Pospisil mentioned: “I am one of many extra lucky gamers and I’ve nonetheless needed to sleep in my automotive when travelling to matches early on in my profession.
“Think about an NFL participant being instructed that he needed to sleep in his automotive at an away sport? It is absurd and would by no means occur, clearly. No different main sport treats its athletes this manner.
“The governing our bodies drive us into unfair contracts, impose inhumane schedules, and punish us for talking out. The authorized actions taken immediately are about fixing tennis for immediately’s gamers and future generations.
“It is time for accountability, actual reform, and a system that protects and empowers gamers. All stakeholders deserve a sport that operates with equity and integrity.”
Ahmad Nassar, Govt Director of the PTPA, advised in a press release of his personal that ‘tennis is damaged’.
“Behind the glamorous veneer that the defendants promote, gamers are trapped in an unfair system that exploits their expertise, suppresses their earnings, and jeopardises their well being and security,” the assertion learn.
3
“We now have exhausted all choices for reform by way of dialogue, and the governing our bodies have left us no alternative however to hunt accountability by way of the courts.
“Fixing these systemic failures is not about disrupting tennis, it is about saving it for the generations of gamers and followers to return.”
The ITF and ITIA haven’t commented when requested by talkSPORT.
talkSPORT has additionally contacted the ATP and WTA for remark.