The U.S. Open's prize money has reached a record high, but the PTPA founded by Djokovic has dampened the mood: it can't save a broken system!

The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) was established in 2020, thanks to Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil. For many years, players have been puzzled about “who truly speaks for them.” The issue lies in the fact that existing organizations often have to balance player interests against the demands of events, leaving players feeling underrepresented. PTPA Executive Director Ahmad Nassar explained, “Appeals for fines, anti-doping appeals... scheduling—what if it rains for four days in a row? Players need an independent organization to represent them on these matters.”

Fast forward to March 2025, the PTPA unflinchingly labeled the largest governing body in tennis as a “cartel,” accusing it of driving down wages, obstructing competitive events, and stifling opportunities, “causing harm to both players and fans.” Since then, their struggle has intensified. Now, they are focusing on the latest big news from the U.S. Open—the announcement that this season's total prize pool has reached a record $90 million. This is a significant increase of 20% from last year, solidifying the U.S. Open's position as the richest event in tennis.

Even more exciting is that this increase benefits every participant—from first-round exits to the ultimate champion. With equal pay already achieved, male and female players receive the same prize money for identical performances. However, not everyone is popping champagne. The PTPA stated on X platform that higher prize money “cannot fix a broken system.”

They candidly outlined the urgent issues that need addressing: “The endless year-round schedule pushes players to their limits, an opaque and inconsistent anti-doping system, lack of player welfare, stagnant prize money for most tours, and ignoring players' voices on issues that directly affect their livelihoods.” The statement concluded, “Band-aid solutions are far from sufficient. As our legal actions continue, the PTPA will keep fighting for the comprehensive solutions that players, fans, and the sport deserve.”

The topic of the tennis schedule is not new. Recently, top players like Fritz and Alcaraz have openly complained about the intense nature of the tour. “If you compete every day without time to relax, that excitement slowly fades away,” said Alcaraz. Earlier this summer, the Canadian Open (held a week after Wimbledon) almost saw all top players withdraw due to the packed schedule, with Sinner, Alcaraz, Djokovic, Draper, and Sabalenka missing due to fatigue or injury.

The anti-doping issue is equally tense. Last year, both Sinner and Swiatek tested positive and received bans of three months and one month, respectively. Other players have criticized the system for its inconsistency, such as Jarry, who was banned for 11 months under similar circumstances and later called the process “unfair.” Djokovic himself has called for a complete overhaul of this “unjust” system, stating, “Most players do not feel the process is fair, and many believe there is bias. It seems that if you are a top player and can hire the best lawyers, you can almost influence the outcome.”

Although the PTPA has legally challenged the relevant organizations for these reasons, surprisingly, Djokovic himself has not joined the lawsuit as a plaintiff. He has publicly stated that he disagrees with some aspects of the case. However, this has not stopped the PTPA from moving forward, as they have already secured several victories. According to the BBC, they partially won their court challenge against the ATP. The PTPA accused the ATP of trying to force players to sign statements claiming they were unaware of the PTPA's legal action filed in March this year. The PTPA is seeking a court order to prevent the ATP from using “improper, coercive, or threatening communication” with players regarding this matter.

New York Judge Margaret Garnett found significant issues. She wrote that the ATP's “behavior thus far, regardless of subjective intent, could easily be seen as potentially coercive, misleading, or otherwise abusive.” Evidence showed that an ATP official had contacted at least two players—Zverev and Ben Shelton—about this matter. The court noted that players “are susceptible to economic coercion” because the events they rely on for their livelihood “are almost entirely organized by the tour.”

This ruling applies only to the ATP. However, the PTPA's larger lawsuit also names the WTA Tour, the International Tennis Federation, and the International Tennis Integrity Agency, accusing them of “anti-competitive behavior and blatant disregard for player welfare.” This struggle is far from over; although the PTPA has achieved a small interim victory, the bigger battle lies ahead.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Spark)