DJOKOVIC ENDS HIS ROLE IN PLAYER UNION HE HELPED CREATE

Novak Djokovic has officially announced that he’s cut ties with the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), the players’ union he co-founded alongside Vasek Pospisil.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion said his decision comes after growing concerns about how the organisation is being run, especially around transparency, governance and the way his voice and image have been represented.

Djokovic launched the PTPA back in 2020/2021 to give tennis professionals a stronger, independent voice in a sport where players are technically independent contractors and not part of a traditional union.

The group has since taken bold steps, including filing a class-action lawsuit in March 2025 against the ATP, WTA, International Tennis Federation, the sport’s integrity agency and, later, the four Grand Slams. The PTPA accused them of anti-competitive practices and failing to prioritise player welfare.

But over time, Djokovic has made it clear that his views and the organisation’s direction no longer line up.

In a statement on social media, he said he was proud of the original vision he and Pospisil shared, but that it’s become obvious his values and approach just aren’t aligned with how things have unfolded.

The Serbian superstar added that he’ll now focus on what matters most to him: His tennis, his family, and contributing to the sport in ways that reflect his own principles and integrity. He also wished those in the PTPA well as they move forward without him.

Image credit: BBC