A federal judge has denied motions to dismiss an antitrust lawsuit filed in March 2025 against the ATP, WTA, and Grand Slam governing bodies by the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA). This lawsuit aims to overhaul the sport and address the complaints of how players are treated and compensated.
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The PTPA, co-founded by Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, outlines allegations of player exploitation in a comprehensive 145-page filing submitted in New York City, London, and Brussels. The lawsuit argues that the sport's leadership has failed to protect players' interests.
Additionally, the Grand Slams recently introduced a Player Advisory Council to facilitate better communication between players and tournament officials. However, tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg suggested that the effectiveness of this council remains to be seen.
In related developments, the WTA announced on Thursday that it will begin awarding equal prize money at all its combined events starting in 2027, fulfilling a commitment made in 2023. This initiative will include joint tournaments like the Italian Open and Cincinnati Open, which will provide identical compensation for men and women.
Furthermore, the WTA has revised its 2027 tournament schedule, reducing the mandatory events for the top 50 players from six to four WTA 500 tournaments. This reflects ongoing discussions about the player calendar and workload among the sport's top competitors.