PTPA Nears Settlement with Tennis Australia Over Player Concerns

The Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA), a global advocacy group co-founded by Novak Djokovic, is close to reaching a settlement with Tennis Australia in a lawsuit concerning player welfare and tournament practices. The PTPA filed a class-action suit in March 2025 against the ATP, WTA, International Tennis Federation, and International Tennis Integrity Agency, claiming these bodies engage in anti-competitive practices and impose unsustainable schedules on players.

In September 2025, organisers of the four Grand Slam events, including the Australian Open, were added to the case. While the ATP described the case as without merit and the WTA called it “baseless,” the PTPA has pushed for reforms in compensation and scheduling practices.

On Wednesday, the PTPA’s lawyers filed a letter to the United States Southern District Court in New York stating that discussions with Tennis Australia had been productive. The parties believe a settlement is likely soon and requested the court to halt proceedings related to Tennis Australia while the agreement is finalised. The request applies only to Tennis Australia, not to the other defendants. Tennis Australia confirmed it would exit the litigation if a settlement is approved by the court.

The lawsuit highlights several grievances. The PTPA claims that professional tennis players are paid artificially low compensation and subjected to a ranking system that forces them to participate in specific tournaments. The association also criticised the demanding 11-month calendar, extreme playing conditions, and the use of different types of tennis balls in various events, which have contributed to chronic injuries among players.

Although Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, is a co-founder of the PTPA, he is not among the 12 current or former players named as plaintiffs. While top-ranked players can earn millions in prize money, lower-ranked competitors often struggle to cover the costs of coaching, travel, and accommodation. Players face penalties, including the loss of ranking points, if they fail to compete in mandatory tournaments.

Tennis Australia is now preparing for the Australian Open, scheduled to begin in Melbourne on January 18, 2026, marking the start of the new Grand Slam season. A potential settlement would allow the event organisers to resolve legal disputes while focusing on the tournament and implementing reforms that support player welfare.