Stan Smith expresses his regret over the current challenges faced by tennis. The former world No. 1 shared with CNN Sports that it is “unfortunate” to witness tennis encountering similar issues as those from five decades ago. This sentiment follows the filing of multiple lawsuits worldwide by the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA), co-founded by Novak Djokovic. These legal actions accuse the tennis tours and governing bodies of monopolizing the sport and neglecting player interests, operating as a cartel. Disagreeing with the lawsuits, both the ATP and WTA have asserted they will vigorously defend their positions.
Smith empathizes with players in the association, including those from the ATP and WTA, highlighting the ongoing struggle for resolution. He acknowledges improvements in playing conditions and prize money but stresses the need for negotiation, particularly concerning major tournament payouts. Emphasizing the significance of players to grand slam events and vice versa, Smith hopes for a compromise amid the current situation.
In a recent interview with CNN during his book tour for “Winning Trust: How To Create Moments That Matter,” Smith discussed these issues. Notably, Novak Djokovic did not associate his name with the lawsuit. Additionally, top-ranked male and female players jointly requested a substantial rise in prize money from major tournaments. This initiative was praised by Qinweng Zheng, the women’s singles gold medalist at the Paris Olympics.
Having played a pivotal role in the evolution of tennis, Smith understands the dynamics of player empowerment. He recalls the significant shift in tennis history when star players transitioned to the professional circuit, leading to the advent of the Open Era. Smith’s own career peak came when he defended his Wimbledon title in 1973, amid a controversy involving Niki Pilić’s ban from the tournament. This incident prompted the formation of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and garnered support from players, including Smith, illustrating the power of unity in the sport.
There are questions about the level of unity in the lawsuit, as many top players were not involved or even aware of it, such as world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz. Djokovic, although a co-founder of the PTPA, was not named in the suit and expressed both agreement and disagreement with certain aspects of the legal action. He stated that he has been active in tennis politics but chose not to sign, hoping that other players would take initiative.
Carlos Alcaraz mentioned that he was unaware of the lawsuit. Tennis analyst Smith, co-author of “Winning Trust” with former player Gary Niebur, believes that many issues could potentially be resolved through communication. He noted that not all players were represented in the lawsuit, as seen during Wimbledon where most top players boycotted matches in support of the ATP.
Smith pointed out that historical issues like scheduling and prize money distribution remain at the core of the current dispute, similar to challenges faced in the past. While Djokovic is connected to the issue, it is ironic that he is not part of the lawsuit, raising questions about unity among players. Overall, there appears to be a lack of consensus among players on this matter. To stay updated on CNN news and newsletters, sign up for an account at CNN.com.
