Tennis bomb: Djokovic’s union demands ITF, ATP and WTA to which he accuses of being “a corrupt, illegal and abusive system”

Tennis is revolutionized on Tuesday with the news that the Association of Professional Tennis Players (PTPA)created and promoted by Novak Djokovic, has announced that it will undertake “decisive” legal actions against the highest regent estates of this sport: ATP; WTA, ITF and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) to which he accuses of acting as a “corrupt, monopoly and illegal system” cartel, according to the statement that he has as an initial phrase in his launch on social networks: “It’s time to fix tennis” (“It is time to fix tennis”).

The PTPA, who says he has the support of 250 players and players, demands from these agencies and expose “systematic abuse, anti -competitive practices and a flagrant contempt for the well -being of the players who have persisted for decades.” These actions, which have been filed in the United States, the United Kingdom and the EU, are accompanied by a list of examples that, according to the union, are “draconian anti -competitive restrictions and abusive practices”, among which are the points of points, the obligation to play certain tournaments or a calendar that point as “unsustainable.”

These are the most significant points for which the complaint has raised:

– Collusion to reduce the competition: «The defendants are conspired to limit the monetary awards that the tournaments grant and limit the ability of the players to earn money outside the track. Tenists receive only 17 % of income, compared to other sports such as golf, basketball and American football, which range between 35 % and 50 % ».

– Mandates of classification points: «The defendants impose a draconian system of classification points that dictates in which tournaments the players can compete, how much compensation they receive and if they receive certain sponsorship opportunities. The system excludes players from any alternative event ».

– Forcing an unsustainable calendar: «The calendar, unsustainable, forces players to travel with their own money and manage their own logistics to participate in dozens of tournaments in six continents. Spending time with the family or recovering from injuries implies giving up opportunities to make a living.

– Disregard towards the players: “Only last year, the players were forced to compete under a heat of 38 degrees, support matches that ended at 3 in the morning and play with different and harmful tennis balls according to the week, which caused chronic wrist injuries, elbow and shoulder.”

– Financial exploitation of players: “Players are forced to give their rights of name, image and likeness (NIL) without any compensation, which allows guiding organisms to wear their identity, while prevents them from achieving certain independent sponsorships.”

– Violation of privacy rights: «Players are subject to invasive records of their personal devices, random drug tests in the middle of the night and interrogations without legal representation. ITIA has suspended players without due process based on weak or invented tests. The players’ phones are confiscated and registered without their consent ».

At the time of the release of the statement, he also raised his voice Ahmad Nassar, executive director of the PTPA: «The tennis is shattered. After the glamorous facade promoted by the defendants, the players are trapped in an unfair system that exploits their talent, reduces their income and endangers their health and safety. We have exhausted all reform options through dialogue, and the guiding bodies have not left us another option to demand responsibilities before the courts. Solving these systemic failures is not about disturbing tennis, but about saving it for future generations of players and fans ».

They also accompany the words of several tennis players, such as Vasek postpisilwhich is co -founder of the union and member of the Executive Committee: «It is not just money, but of fundamental justice, security and human dignity. I am one of the most fortunate players and, at the beginning of my career, I still had to sleep in my car when traveling to matches. No other important sport treats your athletes in this way. Rector bodies force us to sign unfair contracts, impose inhuman schedules and punish us for raising our voice. It is time for accountability, a real reform and a system that protects and empowers the players. And those of Sorana Cirstea: «The current conditions – demanding accalendar, financial uncertainty and insufficient support – are unsustainable. Addressing legal issues is not the first option, but at this stage it is necessary to demand responsibilities and guarantee improvements that have been expected for a long time. The players deserve something better and future generations deserve something better.