Problem is a Monopoly–It’s Hard to Break It

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, March 21, 2025
Picture credit score: Matthew Calvis

When Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic surveys the tennis panorama, he is struck by unsettling imaginative and prescient.

Former world No. 1 Djokovic sees the game creeping towards a tennis feudal system with governing our bodies and a few tournaments thriving, whereas gamers are getting priced out of the competitors. 

Assembly the media in Miami earlier than his opening-round match vs. Rinky Hijikata, Djokovic was requested to evaluate the PTPA’s lawsuit in opposition to the ATP, WTA and ITF. 

Olympic gold-medal champion Djokovic mentioned the first subject is gamers, notably lower-ranked gamers, usually are not receiving an enough piece of the income pie. Consequently, some lower-ranked gamers are pressured out of the game just because they can not afford the price of international journey and training. 

“At the moment, there usually are not sufficient gamers [making a] residing from this sport on the best stage, we’re incomes good cash,” Djokovic instructed the media in Miami. “However the motive why I have been speaking for years in regards to the equal break up of the pie, or enhance of the prize cash, is due to the grassroot ranges.

“And the women and men, skilled tennis gamers which can be preventing to principally proceed enjoying the game. I do know, personally, very massive variety of gamers which have left tennis, notably throughout COVID time due to lack of funds. And so, I believe I do not know precisely these days, the variety of gamers which can be capable of make a residing from this sport?”

Djokovic estimates about 400 gamers making a residing on the professional Excursions and given the very fact tennis is likely one of the most widely-viewed sports activities and generates tons of of thousands and thousands in playing {dollars}, that quantity is unacceptable to him.

“I believe it is in all probability – singles, doubles, males, girls mixed – in all probability round 400 [players who make a living from tennis],” Djokovic mentioned. “Which isn’t sufficient for a really international sport that we have now. I need to see that quantity increase. I have been saying this rather a lot within the media within the final a number of years.

“However based mostly on some research and analysis that was completed in regards to the reputation of the sports activities tennis is definitely the third or fourth hottest sport on the planet. I believe we’re sharing the third spot with cricket. Primary is clearly soccer, or soccer, as you name it, [then] basketball, and it was adopted by greater than virtually 2 billion folks. And tennis and cricket is 1.3 billion folks, however when it comes to maximizing its potential, and business worth, we’re quantity 9, or ten. So, so there’s big [potential].”

𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝘅 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘀.

In the present day, the PTPA and over a dozen gamers, on behalf of the complete skilled inhabitants, filed a sweeping sequence of authorized actions in opposition to the ATP, WTA, ITF and ITIA to reform skilled tennis. https://t.co/1r4LWQpopP

— Skilled Tennis Gamers Affiliation (@ptpaplayers) March 18, 2025

Based in 2019, the PTPA has advocated for skilled tennis gamers to have extra say and management over their careers, together with sponsorship and off-court incomes alternatives that they really feel are overly restricted by their participation in ATP and WTA occasions.

So given the large viewers and income numbers at stake, why have not gamers and the sport’s governing our bodies labored out a mutual settlement? Why did the PTPA file the blockbuster lawsuit in opposition to the ATP, WTA and ITF with out one remaining effort to succeed in an accord?

Djokovic mentioned the reason being easy: he views the present ATP political construction as a “monopoly”  

“Widespread Floor and a typical route that may be satisfying or win-win for everybody,” Djokovic mentioned. “Downside is that there’s a monopoly in place as effectively that has been there for many years, and it is arduous to interrupt it, and gamers are sometimes instances getting a shorter finish of the stick.

“And I believe it is proper for any participant, actually, to talk up on this subject. So I believe I am in direction of the top of my profession, and lots of the folks have at all times been counting on me to say one thing about this matter, as I am doing proper now, and I do not thoughts speaking about it.

“However I want to see the present leaders of the respective excursions and and the longer term generations which can be going to guide this sport for the subsequent many years, to take a lead, and to know that these points, these subjects, these topics, are essential for them and for the gamers, and never only for them, but additionally for the opposite gamers that they’re representing.”

In a press release issued on Tuesday, the ATP blasted the PTPA claims of corruption as “fully with out advantage” and additional knocked the PTPA for attempting to draw consideration to its trigger via “division and distraction.”

“Whereas ATP has remained centered on delivering reforms that profit gamers at a number of ranges, the PTPA has constantly chosen division and distraction via misinformation over progress,” the ATP mentioned in a press release. “5 years on from its inception in 2020, the PTPA has struggled to determine a significant function in tennis, making its choice to pursue authorized motion at this juncture unsurprising.

“We strongly reject the premise of the PTPA’s claims, imagine the case to be fully with out advantage, and can vigorously defend our place. ATP stays dedicated to working in the very best pursuits of the sport – in direction of continued development, monetary stability, and the absolute best future for our gamers, tournaments, and followers.”

Djokovic, a former ATP Participant Council President, and Vasek Pospisil based The Skilled Tennis Gamers Affiliation with the goal of giving professional gamers whole illustration within the sport’s decision-making course of.

In current interviews, Djokovic has reiterated his long-held declare that the ATP Board of Administrators construction is damaged and doesn’t adequately characterize participant curiosity.

“We’ve got an issue within the very—how can I say—construction of the ATP is that as gamers we solely have the 50% of that group,” Djokovic mentioned. “There’s lots of instances there was battle of curiosity between tournaments and gamers. We needed totally different factor.

“We’re a part of the identical system, and we will not go with out one another, however we’re oftentimes in conflictual conditions. “We would like extra money, they possibly do not need to give us as a lot cash after we discuss in regards to the prize cash. There’s so many various layers of the prize cash that it’s a must to look into. It is not that easy.”