A New York judge has denied motions to dismiss and compel arbitration in the antitrust lawsuit filed by the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) against the ATP, WTA, and three Grand Slam organizers. This decision, issued by U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett, is outlined in a 66-page ruling.
Read More
The judge dismissed motions from the WTA and U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) seeking to compel arbitration regarding the claims made against them. Additionally, motions from the ATP and WTA to dismiss claims brought by players competing on their tours were rejected, as the judge found the plaintiffs had presented a plausible case for alleged antitrust conspiracy across the sport.
The court also dismissed motions from the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) and the French Tennis Federation (FFT) to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction, as well as motions to dismiss by the Grand Slam defendants and attempts by the ATP and WTA to dismiss the PTPA from the lawsuit due to a claimed lack of standing. Furthermore, the ATP's claim that Delaware courts had exclusive jurisdiction over disputes was not upheld.
With the PTPA and 15 current or former ATP and WTA players as plaintiffs, the case can now proceed to discovery or potentially settlement discussions. Tennis Australia previously settled with the PTPA to withdraw from litigation.
The PTPA initially filed the lawsuit in March 2025 against the ATP, WTA, ITF (now World Tennis), and ITIA, later dropping the ITF and ITIA from the case and adding the Grand Slam organizers.
An in-person conference is set for October 29 in New York. In response to the court's decisions, the USTA stated it has always prioritized the best interests of players and the sport, and it is reviewing the ruling to prepare a robust defense. The FFT declined to comment, while the ATP, WTA, and AELTC have yet to respond.