Alcaraz Distances Himself from Player Association Lawsuit Against Tennis Governing Bodies

Surprise Lawsuit Shakes Tennis World

The tennis world was rocked this week by a class-action lawsuit filed against the sport's governing bodies, alleging anti-competitive practices. Filed by the Professional Tennis Players' Association (PTPA), co-founded by Novak Djokovic, the suit claims the WTA, ATP, ITF, and ITIA operate as a "cartel," stifling competition and player autonomy.

Alcaraz Unaware and Unsupportive

Rising star and four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz expressed surprise at the lawsuit, stating he learned about it through social media. While acknowledging some agreement with the PTPA's grievances, Alcaraz clearly distanced himself from the legal action. "There are some things that I agree with. There are some other things that I don't agree with," Alcaraz explained at a Miami Open press conference. "But the main thing here is that I am not supporting that."

Unwitting Participant in Lawsuit

Adding to the intrigue, Alcaraz, along with other prominent players like Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek, was quoted within the 150-page filing, a fact he was also unaware of. The lawsuit cited Alcaraz's previous comments about the demanding tennis schedule, where he expressed concern about the increasing number of mandatory tournaments, saying, "probably they are going to kill us in some way." This statement, originally made with a smile at the Laver Cup last September, now takes on a new context within the legal battle.

Key Grievances of the PTPA

The PTPA’s lawsuit levels a range of accusations against tennis's governing bodies, including limiting prize money, restricting competition, controlling player rankings, and employing what they deem arbitrary and selective anti-doping and anti-corruption measures.