Novak Djokovic was not only informed about the recent lawsuit spearheaded by the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), but he also fully supported it, according to his fellow co-founder, Vasek Pospisil. The legal move, initiated in March, targets major tennis authorities—the ATP, WTA, ITF, and ITIA—and accuses them of enforcing restrictive and unfair practices detrimental to the interests of players.
Djokovic, who co-launched the PTPA alongside Canadian former pro Pospisil back in 2020, has long been an advocate for player empowerment. The latest legal push aligns with the PTPA’s broader agenda: challenging what it describes as a tennis “cartel” that limits athlete influence and economic freedom within the sport’s structure.
The lawsuit, a detailed 163-page document, has been lodged in the U.S. District Court in New York. While it calls for a jury trial and outlines numerous grievances regarding competition limitations and systemic abuses, Djokovic’s name is noticeably absent from the list of 11 current and former players serving as plaintiffs—among them are Pospisil and Nick Kyrgios. Initially 12, the group reduced in number after British player Jay Clarke opted out.
While Djokovic refrained from formally attaching his name to the lawsuit, his position wasn’t one of detachment. At the Indian Wells Masters, he acknowledged being aligned with the cause, although he offered a measured response when asked about the complaint’s aggressive language.
“I’ve never been a fan and supporter of division in our sport,” said the 24-time Grand Slam champion. “I’ve always fought for better representation and influence of and positioning of the players globally in our sport, which I think is still not where I think it should be.”
Djokovic emphasized the shared sentiment among many professionals—not just regarding earnings, but also on matters like scheduling, player rights, and transparency. “Where most of the players think it should be, not just in terms of prize money, but in terms of many other points that have been also stated in that document,” he added.
Although he didn’t personally sign the lawsuit, Djokovic clarified that he agreed with many of its core concerns, though he did critique the tone. “This is a classic lawsuit, so lawyers to lawyers, type of situation. So to be quite frank with you, there are things that I agree with in the lawsuit, and then there are also things that I don’t agree with. I found that maybe some wording was quite strong in there, but I guess the legal team knows what they are doing and what kind of terminology they’re supposed to use in order to get the right effect.”
From the legal trenches to the locker room, Djokovic may be playing a more tactical role, staying behind the scenes while still shaping the narrative. Speaking in an interview on The Slice Tennis YouTube channel, Pospisil confirmed that Djokovic had been deeply involved in the groundwork for the case.
“He was very much part of the process, staying updated and involved through his agent, with plenty of time before the lawsuit was filed,” said Pospisil. “From my conversations with him, I believe his stance was that he didn’t want to make it about himself but rather about the broader group of players and the necessary changes in tennis.”
According to the Canadian, Djokovic’s absence from the list of plaintiffs wasn’t about disengagement but about redirecting the spotlight. “As a PTPA co-founder, he naturally played a role in the PTPA-led lawsuit, though he preferred to be involved from that angle vs as a direct plaintiff. He had his reasons for this choice, but there’s no doubt he was fully aware of and supportive of the lawsuit.”
Djokovic has consistently spoken about one of the PTPA’s primary goals: reshaping how tennis revenue is shared and ensuring the sport becomes more sustainable for all tiers of professionals—not just the household names.
In 2023, the Serbian made his case for economic justice across the rankings. “We talk so much about how much money the US Open winners make but we are not talking about how many players, both men and women, singles, doubles, all together, professionals live from this sport,” he pointed out.
The conversation sparked by the PTPA’s legal action is not just about legal semantics—it’s a rallying cry to redefine the tennis landscape for generations to come. And whether from the courtroom sidelines or center court, Djokovic seems determined to continue driving that change.