Novak Djokovic has announced that he has stepped away completely from the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), the breakaway union he co-founded, citing concerns over transparency, governance and representation.
According to BBC Sport on Monday, the 24-time Grand Slam champion announced in a post on X, bringing an end to his formal association with the organisation he launched in 2021 alongside Canadian player Vasek Pospisil.
“After careful consideration, I have decided to step away completely from the Professional Tennis Players Association,” Djokovic wrote.
“This decision comes after ongoing concerns regarding transparency, governance, and the way my voice and image have been represented.”
Djokovic said he remained proud of the original vision behind the PTPA, which aimed to give professional players a stronger and more independent voice, but acknowledged that his values no longer aligned with the organisation’s current direction.
“I am proud of the vision that Vasek and I shared when founding the PTPA,” he said. “But it has become clear that my values and approach are no longer aligned with the current direction of the organisation.”
He added that his focus would now return to tennis, family and contributing to the sport in ways that reflect his principles.
The PTPA was created as an alternative to existing tennis governance structures and has positioned itself as an advocate for player welfare. In March last year, the organisation launched legal action against the ATP and WTA Tours, as well as other governing bodies, alleging anti-competitive practices and a disregard for player welfare.
Both the ATP and WTA strongly rejected the accusations and said they would defend their position.
At the time the lawsuit was filed, Djokovic publicly stated that he did not agree with all aspects of the case, distancing himself from the legal action — a position that has now culminated in his complete withdrawal.
Following Djokovic’s announcement, the PTPA said it had been the target of a “co-ordinated defamation and witness intimidation campaign” related to its litigation against the tours and Grand Slam organisers. The association said a federal court had already ruled such conduct improper and ordered it to stop.
The PTPA’s legal complaint calls for reforms to what it describes as an unsustainable playing schedule, invasive anti-doping practices by the International Tennis Integrity Agency, and alleged collusion that suppresses competition between tournaments and limits prize money.
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