Nick Kyrgios named in bombshell Novak Djokovic lawsuit as tennis war erupts

Novak Djokovic, Nick Kyrgios and several other stars have launched legal action over alleged “systematic abuse”.

A tennis union co-founded by tennis great Novak Djokovic on Tuesday announced a series of legal actions aimed at the sport’s governing bodies – which are referred to as like a “cartel”.

A total of 20 current and former players, including Djokovic and Aussie Nick Kyrgios, are listed as plaintiffs alongside the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA).

The PTPA, which was co-founded by Novak Djokovic in 2019 with the purpose of giving players more power and say over their careers and earnings, said in a statement on Tuesday that after several years of good-faith efforts to reform professional tennis, it had been left with no other choice but to pursue legal action.

The PTPA vowed to expose alleged “systemic abuse, anti-competitive practices, and a blatant disregard for player welfare that has persisted for decades”.

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The list of allegations includes eight subsections, which are: collusion to reduce competition, fixing prize money, suppressing player earnings, ranking points mandates, maintaining an unsustainable schedule and disregard for players.

“The lawsuits expose systemic abuse, anti-competitive practices, and a blatant disregard for player welfare that have persisted for decades,” the PTPA statement said in a statement.

“The ATP, WTA, ITF, and ITIA operate as a cartel by implementing a number of draconian, interlocking anti-competitive restraints and abusive practices.”

The statement listed alleged abuses they are targeting.

It said the defendants “colluded”, “fixing prize money and suppressing player earnings” forcing “an unsustainable schedule” and exploiting players financially.

The PTPA also claims the bodies show a “disregard for players” by making them “compete in 100-degree (Fahrenheit) heat, endure matches that ended at 3am, and play with different and injury-inducing tennis balls”.

It also cited image right ownership, sponsorship restrictions and the “draconian system of ranking points”.

Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic are part of a huge lawsuit launched against tennis organisations. Image: Getty

The statement also complained that tennis violates players’ “privacy rights”.

“Players are subjected to invasive searches of personal devices, random middle-of-the-night drug tests, and interrogations without legal representation,” it said.

 The ATP and WTA have since responded, vowing to defend themselves against the claims with the men’s tour saying the PTPA has “consistently chosen division and distraction through misinformation over progress” in a strong statement.

“Throughout more than three decades, ATP’s 50-50 governance structure has ensured that players and tournaments have an equal voice in shaping the sport’s direction at the highest level. Recent years have brought about transformative changes for players,” the ATP said in a statement.

Novak Djokovic co-founded the PTPA in 2019. (Getty Images via AFP)

“The introduction of a prize money formula, record-setting on-site prize money, and new and expanded Bonus Pools have contributed to a major increase in player compensation, up $70 million in the past five years. The introduction of annual, independent audits has given players full transparency over tournament financials at ATP events.

“ATP’s Baseline program has introduced minimum guaranteed income for the top 250-ranked singles players, providing unprecedented financial security in professional tennis.

“Contributions to the player pension fund have surged, while prize money at ATP Challenger Tour events has more than doubled, reinforcing ATP’s commitment to strengthening the player pathway.”

The WTA also defended its approach to the game and said that PTPA’s action “is both regrettable and misguided, and we will defend our position vigorously in due course.”

– with AFP