4 months ago
Novak Djokovic is cutting ties pinch nan Professional Tennis Players Association, a group he co-founded that sued nan sport’s governing bodies past year, penning connected societal media connected Sunday that “my values and attack are nary longer aligned pinch nan existent guidance of nan organization”.
The 24-time expansive slam champion announced astatine nan 2020 US Open that he and nan now-retired Canadian subordinate Vasek Pospisil were launching nan PTPA. They said they were aiming to connection practice for players who are independent contractors successful a mostly individual sport.
One of nan goals made clear on nan measurement was to go a full-fledged national that negotiates corporate bargaining agreements for illustration those that beryllium successful squad sports, though that has not happened.
Djokovic said connected X connected Sunday that he had “ongoing concerns regarding transparency, governance, and nan measurement my sound and image person been represented”.
The PTPA revenge a class-action suit successful March against nan women’s and men’s tours, nan International Tennis Federation and nan sport’s integrity agency, accusing nan organisations of “systemic abuse, anti-competitive practices, and a blatant disregard for subordinate welfare”. The 4 expansive slam tournaments were later added arsenic defendants.
Djokovic was not listed arsenic a plaintiff erstwhile nan suit was filed; Pospisil and different players were.
That is because, Djokovic said successful March, “I want different players to measurement up.”
The suit argues that players should summation entree to much earnings, saying that nan governing bodies that oversee nan 4 Grand Slam tournaments – Wimbledon, nan US Open, nan French Open and nan Australian Open – and different master events “cap nan prize money tournaments grant and limit players’ expertise to gain money disconnected nan court.”
Djokovic said connected Sunday he “will proceed to attraction connected my tennis, my family, and contributing to nan athletics successful ways that bespeak my principles and integrity. I wish nan players and those progressive nan champion arsenic they move forward, but for me, this section is now closed.”
