Novak Djokovic has confirmed his departure from the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), the players’ body he helped establish six years ago, citing fundamental concerns over governance, transparency.
And the use of his voice and image. The move marks a major shift for the organisation and casts fresh uncertainty over the future of independent player representation in professional tennis. In a statement posted on social media late Sunday, Djokovic said he had chosen to step away “completely” after sustained misgivings about how the PTPA is run.
“After careful consideration, I have decided to step away completely from the Professional Tennis Players Association,” Djokovic wrote. “This decision comes after ongoing concerns regarding transparency, governance, and the way my voice and image have been represented.”
While expressing pride in the original ideals behind the PTPA, the 24-time Grand Slam champion said those principles no longer align with the organisation’s current direction. He added that he will now focus on “my tennis, my family, and contributing to the sport in ways that reflect my principles and integrity.”
Djokovic, who is set to begin his 2026 season at the Australian Open, exits at a pivotal moment for the PTPA, which has been engaged in escalating legal and political battles with tennis’s governing bodies.
What is the PTPA?
The Professional Tennis Players Association was co-founded by Djokovic and Canada’s Vasek Pospisil in 2019–20 in response to long-standing player dissatisfaction with governance and revenue distribution in tennis. The organisation was designed to provide players — men and women — with an independent collective voice outside the structures of the ATP, WTA, International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).
Prior to the PTPA’s creation, player representation largely came through advisory bodies such as the ATP Player Council. Djokovic stepped down from that role in 2020, arguing that players, as independent contractors, required a stronger and more autonomous platform to protect their interests.
Structured as a non-profit association rather than a traditional union, the PTPA set out to campaign for greater transparency, fairer financial models, improved scheduling and stronger welfare protections, particularly for lower-ranked players.
Since its launch, the PTPA has been one of the sport’s most polarising organisations. In March 2025, it filed a wide-ranging antitrust class-action lawsuit against the ATP, WTA, ITF and ITIA, accusing them of anti-competitive practices, exploitative structures and policies that undermine player welfare.
The governing bodies rejected the claims, describing the lawsuit as unfounded and divisive. Critics within the sport have also questioned whether the PTPA’s confrontational approach and limited consensus among players have weakened its ability to deliver meaningful reform.
Djokovic’s exit is widely seen as a sign of internal disagreements over strategy and direction, particularly around the legal path the organisation has pursued. Without its most influential co-founder, the PTPA now faces renewed scrutiny over its leadership, credibility and long-term role in shaping the future of professional tennis.
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