Novak Djokovic announced on Sunday that he is completely stepping away from the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), an organization he co-founded five years ago.
Djokovic made the announcement on social media, stating his decision followed “careful consideration.”
“This decision comes after ongoing concerns regarding transparency, governance, and the way my voice and image have been represented,” Djokovic wrote. He expressed pride in the original vision he shared with co-founder Vasek Pospisil to give players a stronger, independent voice. However, he added, “it has become clear that my values and approach are no longer aligned with the current direction of the organization.”
Ahmad Nassar, the Executive Director of the PTPA, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Djokovic’s departure comes at a critical time for the PTPA, which is currently engaged in its most major action since being founded, a large antitrust lawsuit against the sport’s most powerful bodies.
The PTPA first filed the suit in March against the ATP and WTA Tours, which run the men’s and women’s professional circuits. The lawsuit also initially named the International Tennis Federation and the sport’s anti-doping authorities as defendants. At the time, Djokovic was not a named plaintiff in the case and said during a news conference that he did not agree with all parts of the lawsuit.
In September, the PTPA updated its lawsuit. It removed the anti-doping authorities and the ITF, and instead added the organizers of the four Grand Slam tournaments, the Australian Open, French Open, U.S. Open, and Wimbledon. The PTPA had previously called these tournaments “co-conspirators” with a “cartel” formed by the tours, accusing them of restricting player opportunity, prize money, and welfare.
Most recently, in December, the PTPA said it had reached a confidential settlement with Tennis Australia, which runs the Australian Open. The other three Grand Slam tournaments and the two tours have moved to have the lawsuit dismissed. The ATP Tour has called the suit “entirely without merit,” and the WTA labeled it “baseless.”
PTPA Executive Director Ahmad Nassar has stated the organization does not plan to take the lawsuit all the way to a court verdict. Instead, it aims to push for reforms, particularly focused on how prize money is distributed and the structure of the tennis calendar.
The issue of prize money has been a central concern for players, including Djokovic and others not directly involved in the lawsuit. They have pushed for Grand Slam tournaments to give a higher percentage of their revenues to players in prize money. Currently, Grand Slams allot an estimated 15 to 20 percent of revenue to player compensation. In contrast, North American major sports leagues like the NBA, NFL, and MLB, which have collective bargaining agreements between players and leagues, award players close to 50 percent of revenues.
Djokovic, 38, remains one of the sport’s top competitors. Last year, he reached the semifinals of all four Grand Slam tournaments, though he did not win a major title in 2024. He will now continue his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam singles title at the upcoming Australian Open, which begins on January 18.