Djokovic at the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 11/2025. Photo: Reuters

Novak Djokovic, a prominent figure in professional tennis, recently announced his departure from the professional tennis players association (PTPA), an organization he co-founded six years ago with Canadian player Vasek Popisil. The decision, revealed on 4/1, stems from Djokovic's growing concerns regarding the PTPA's transparency and governance.

The PTPA was established in 2020 with the mission of advocating for greater player rights and combating corruption within major tennis bodies such as the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). Djokovic served as a key figure and the most recognizable representative for the organization over the past five years, making his departure a significant development. The PTPA continues its efforts to secure more benefits for players, particularly those with lower rankings. In 2025, the organization pressured the four grand slam tournaments to increase prize money and urged the ATP and WTA to enhance financial transparency.

A year of internal conflict reportedly preceded Djokovic's exit. In 3/2025, the PTPA initiated a broad lawsuit against the ATP, WTA, and the International Tennis Federation (ITF), accusing the three organizations of corruption, abuse of power, and illegal monopolization. The lawsuit later expanded to include the organizers of the four grand slam events. While the PTPA listed numerous players supporting their legal action, Djokovic's name was notably absent. Internal sources indicated that the Serbian tennis legend disagreed with CEO Ahmad Nassar's leadership in pursuing such aggressive legal actions.

Djokovic hinted at his disagreements with the PTPA during the Miami Masters tournament. "Regarding the lawsuit, there are things I agree with and things I don't," he stated. "I think some of the language the PTPA used was quite strong."

The rift between Djokovic and the PTPA deepened last month when the organization reached a separate agreement with the Australian Open, excluding Tennis Australia from the ongoing lawsuit. This agreement reportedly involved concessions from the Australian Open regarding prize money and player access. Djokovic believes this compromise undermines the PTPA's original mission to comprehensively reform the tennis governance system. "I am very proud of what Vasek Popisil and I shared when we founded the PTPA," Djokovic explained further on 4/1. "But now, my values and approach no longer align with the organization's current direction."

Vy Anh