PTPA’s Vasek Pospisil reveals Novak Djokovic’s stance on lawsuit against tennis governing bodies

Novak Djokovic was not named as a plaintiff in the class-action lawsuit filed by PTPA he founded in 2020 along with Vasek Pospisil.


PTPA’s Vasek Pospisil reveals Novak Djokovic’s stance on lawsuit against tennis governing bodies

Vasek Pospisil, Novak Djokovic (Image via Vasek Pospisil's Instagram, X/Tennis Magazine)

Vasek Pospisil said Novak Djokovicclearly has his reasons” about why he wasn’t a part of the class-action filed by the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) along with 12 current and former tennis players. Pospisil and Djokovic founded the PTPA in 2020 and last month, the players union sued the ATP, WTA, ITF, and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).

They have accused the governing bodies of not taking care of the players’ well-being, citing the hectic 11-month calendar and the constant ball change which is responsible for the increase in shoulder and wrist injuries. But another shocking thing about the lawsuit was that Djokovic’s name was not listed as a plaintiff. Pospisil, who was named as one of the plaintiffs, explained what he thinks about Djokovic’s stance on the entire thing.

YouTube video

He was very much part of the process, getting updated. He had the lawsuit, him and his agent, months or a month – I don’t know exactly when – but with plenty of time.

Vasek Pospisil told the Slice Tennis podcast

The Serb, when asked at the Miami Open about the lawsuit, said he agreed and disagreed with certain parts of it and founded some words “quite strong“. The reason was also that he wanted other players to step up.

For him, I obviously spoke to him a few times prior to filing the lawsuit, I don’t want to put words in his mouth but I think his position is that he didn’t want to make this about him, he wanted to make this about the wider group of players and the much needed change in tennis. Of course, as a PTPA co-founder this is a PTPA co-led lawsuit so it almost goes without saying that he is part of it.

Vasek Pospisil added

The PTPA has also accused the ITIA of a “gross invasion of privacy“. They want the tennis bodies to pay more to the players as prize money through the revenue generated in tournaments.

Gael Monfils picks the Australian Open final between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal as the most memorable match for him

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have squared off against each other in many memorable matches, one of which was the 2012 Australian Open final. According to Gael Monfils, that final, which lasted for five hours and 53 minutes was the most memorable match in the history of tennis.

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal (via Olympics)
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal (via Olympics)

The final between Novak and Rafa where they played more than five hours. It’s not just the level for me, it was a crazy final, long and exceptional level, they pushed the limits of tennis again in terms of physicality and level.

Gael Monfils said on his YouTube channel

In the final, Djokovic defended his crown with a 5–7, 6–4, 6–2, 6–7(5), 7–5 win to lift his third Major title Down Under and his fifth Grand Slam title overall. That was one of the 60 matches they played against each other. Djokovic edges 31-29 in the head-to-head record over the Spaniard, who retired at the Davis Cup last year.

Novak Djokovic failed to lift his 100th ATP title at the Miami Open

For the first time since the 2024 Shanghai Masters, Novak Djokovic progressed to a tour-level singles final. He met 19-year-old Jakub Mensik, whom the Serb failed to beat.

Novak Djokovic (2)
Novak Djokovic (Image via X/NovakFanFan)

Had he won, Djokovic would have become the third player after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer to reach the 100-title mark. The 24-time Major champion last lifted a tour-level singles title at the 2023 ATP Finals. He will next participate in the Monte Carlo Masters, the main draw of which starts on April 6.