World number three Carlos Alcaraz has made it clear that he does not support the lawsuit filed by the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA), the union co-founded by Novak Djokovic. The legal action, which targets tennis’ governing bodies, has sparked controversy in the sport, with Alcaraz expressing surprise and distancing himself from the move.
The PTPA filed the lawsuit on Tuesday, alleging that the ATP, WTA, International Tennis Federation (ITF), and International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) maintain a “monopolistic control” over the tennis tour. The complaint challenges the current tournament schedule, ranking system, and the governing bodies’ control over players’ image rights. The PTPA is demanding financial compensation and structural changes to give players more control over their careers.
Speaking at the Miami Open, the 21-year-old Spaniard said he was not consulted before the lawsuit was filed. “It was surprising for me because no one had told me about it,” Alcaraz stated. “There are things I agree with, and there are other things I don’t. The main thing is, I don’t support what was done.”
The lawsuit has drawn sharp reactions from tennis’ governing bodies. The ATP, which oversees the men’s tour, criticized the PTPA for causing “division and distraction” in the sport. Meanwhile, the WTA, responsible for the women’s tour, labeled the lawsuit “regrettable and misguided.”
The legal challenge is being led by 12 players, including Djokovic’s co-founder Vasek Pospisil and Australian star Nick Kyrgios. The PTPA claims that the lawsuit represents the interests of the “entire player population,” but Alcaraz has openly rejected this notion.
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“Yesterday, I saw on social media that they included something I said in a press conference as part of their documents, and I wasn’t aware of it,” he said. “I honestly don’t support that letter because I wasn’t consulted.”
The PTPA, founded in 2020, aims to increase players’ control over tennis administration and reduce the influence of governing bodies. The group has accused these organizations of acting as a “cartel” by forming agreements with tournament organizers that cap prize money and enforce what it describes as a “draconian” ranking system.
As tensions rise between the PTPA and tennis’ traditional governing bodies, the sport finds itself at a crossroads, with players like Alcaraz opting to remain neutral in the growing power struggle.
