A series of lawsuits were filed on Tuesday against tennis governing bodies, including the ATP and WTA, alleging unfair business practices and claiming that the sport is in a state of disarray. The Professional Tennis Players Association, along with 22 players, are accusing several organizations of monopolizing professional tennis and engaging in anticompetitive behavior. The PTPA’s executive director, Ahmad Nassar, stated, “Tennis is broken,” highlighting the challenges faced by players within the current system. The complaint, totaling 162 pages, was filed in U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York and includes twelve players as plaintiffs, such as Vasek Pospisil, Nick Kyrgios, Sorana Cirstea, and Reilly Opelka. The lawsuit alleges that the organizations are operating as a “cartel,” limiting competition and prize money. Pospisil expressed the necessity of creating change through the player association and exploring all avenues to achieve their goals. Additional lawsuits have been filed in the UK and EU involving ten other plaintiffs. The legal actions seek to address concerns such as scheduling optimization, increased revenue sharing, and prioritizing player welfare. The ATP and WTA have both responded to the lawsuits, rejecting the claims made by the PTPA and affirming their intent to defend their positions vigorously.
