Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Sports

Tennis players file federal lawsuit against ATP, WTA tours

The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) has filed lawsuits against major tennis organizations, including the ATP and WTA, alleging antitrust violations and exploitation of players.
The PTPA, which claims support from over 250 players, argues that these organizations act as a ‘cartel’ to limit player earnings and control the tennis schedule.
The lawsuit specifically criticizes the organizations for capping prize money, restricting off-court earning opportunities, and implementing a demanding tournament schedule that jeopardizes player health.
The PTPA also accuses the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) of employing overly aggressive and intrusive investigative tactics, including excessive drug testing and invasive searches.

The Professional Tennis Players Association sued several organizations, including the ATP, WTA and International Tennis Federation, likening them to a ‘cartel,’ alleging several antitrust violations, systemic abuse, collusion to reduce competition, exploiting players financially, and forcing athletes to play an unsustainable schedule.

Court documents filed in New York City, London and Brussels and obtained by USA TODAY Sports, name 22 players, including Vasek Pospisil, Nick Kyrgios, Sorana Cirstea and Reilly Opelka as plaintiffs, who demand a jury trial.

‘Tennis is broken,’ Ahmad Nassar, executive director of the PTPA, said in a statement. ‘Behind the glamorous veneer that the Defendants promote, players are trapped in an unfair system that exploits their talent, suppresses their earnings, and jeopardizes their health and safety. We have exhausted all options for reform through dialogue, and the governing bodies have left us no choice but to seek accountability through the courts.’

The Professional Tennis Players Association, which was co-founded by 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and Pospisil in 2019, says their mandate is to unite and mobilize ‘tennis players to foster transparency and fairness in professional tennis.’

The 162-page lawsuit filed Wednesday details some of those complaints and the PTPA says they are backed by more than 250 players, many of whom are ranked in the top 20.

‘Defendants do so by capping the prize money tournaments award and limiting players’ ability to earn money off the court,’ the lawsuit says. ‘Rather than being determined by market forces, players’ earnings are instead subject to limitations agreed upon by the defendants and their co-conspirators.’

Another grievance in the lawsuit is the tour schedule, which the lawsuit says the men’s tour, the ATP, ‘schedules an annual slate of over 60 tournaments in which male players play,’ leaving little time to rest and recover.

‘Defendants do so by capping the prize money tournaments award and limiting players’ ability to earn money off the court. Rather than being determined by market forces, players’ earnings are instead subject to limitations agreed upon by the defendants and their co-conspirators.’

The lawsuit says that four Grand Slam tournaments, the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open, are co-conspirators with the defendants who use the tournaments ‘to enrich themselves at the players’ expense, to the detriment of fans and the game.’

The International Tennis Integrity Agency, which says it tries to safeguard tennis to make sure the sport is free from corruption and doping, is also a defendant in the case.

‘The ITIA’s aggressive, unrelenting, and, at times, illegal investigative processes subject players to dozens of drug tests (both blood and urine), invasive searches of their personal cell phones, hours-long interrogations without counsel, and harassment by unaccountable and ill-trained investigators,’ the lawsuit says.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

    Fill Out & Get More Relevant News


    Stay ahead of the market and unlock exclusive trading insights & timely news. We value your privacy - your information is secure, and you can unsubscribe anytime. Gain an edge with hand-picked trading opportunities, stay informed with market-moving updates, and learn from expert tips & strategies.

    You May Also Like

    Stocks

    In this exclusive video, legendary trader Larry Williams breaks down why the stock market is primed for a rally, using technical analysis, fundamental signals,...

    Sports

    The men’s March Madness bracket is set and a pecking order has quickly emerged as the picks and predictions start to roll in for...

    Sports

    The decision to promote Hubert Davis as Roy Williams’ successor seemed inspired after North Carolina went all the way to the national championship game...

    Sports

    You’re just recovering from the madness of Selection Sunday and the reveal of the 68 teams in the NCAA men’s tournament bracket. Now comes...

    Disclaimer: hotopportunitynow.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 hotopportunitynow.com | All Rights Reserved