Novak Djokovic hits out at ATP in strong statement defending players’ rights

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Novak Djokovic has hit out at the ATP in a pointed message suggesting that they do not have players’ best interests truly at heart. The Serbian is a founder of the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) and has insisted that the group is the only organisation that represents the ‘rights’ of players.

Djokovic has never shied away from voicing his views on matters, and how tennis can improve as a whole has often been a talking point for the 36-year-old. His work with PTPA is a significant indicator that the world No 1 is unhappy with how the main bodies in tennis are conducting themselves, and Djokovic is keen to continue promoting the organisation.

The PTPA claim that they aim to ‘create transparency and equity’ throughout tennis and aims to provide all players with a voice on key matters, such as safeguarding. Speaking on their social media channels, Djokovic explained that his group had not received the support he had hoped from bigger organisations since they were founded in 2019.

He said: “Some other governing bodies in our sport have not been really supportive of the PTPA or I would say have been pretty much ignoring the PTPA. But we are there and we are getting stronger and stronger day by day, gaining more trust and more support from the players.

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“Players are recognising the importance of PTPA as an organisation for them and representing their rights. Because at the end of the day, we are the only association in our sport that really has 100% interest of players.”

Djokovic’s strong statement comes shortly after PTPA CEO Ahmad Nassar told Ubitennis that the organisation believes that players should be able to choose where they play based on their own personal views, following the news that Saudi Arabia will be pushing to host events in the future.

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He explained: “The PTPA, like other players associations, exists to represent all players. That includes players with various viewpoints on nuanced and complicated issues such as holding events in Saudi Arabia (or any other location). Players must remain free to play – or not play – wherever their own personal beliefs dictate.

“Like all businesses, tennis must be careful who it partners with. It’s certainly possible to host events in almost any location, provided the business terms, optics, and ability to drive meaningful and lasting improvements are considered. But putting the burden on professional athletes to belatedly act as the world’s “morality police” is at best curious and hypocritical, and at worst, a dangerous and purposeful misdirection.”

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