After his line umpire debacle at the 2020 US Open, Novak Djokovic, along with Vasek Pospisil and John Isner announced to the world that they were going to break away from the ATP Players Council to form The Professional Tennis Player’s Association (PTPA). The Serbinator’s project sank like a stone in the ocean of indifference and criticism.
The PTPA came as a surprise to everyone in the community and didn’t receive a warm welcome. After three very slow years, the PTPA is forming into something bigger and working towards something greater.
Novak Djokovic urges players to join PTPA
Initially, the idea of PTPA was received with a lot of hate and criticism among tennis players and fans. However, since the formal initiation of the PTPA in 2021, several players have understood the objectives of this association. With a slow journey upward, Novak Djokovic announced an update about the PTPA’s first-ever executive committee.
He reiterated the purpose of the PTPA: “We are going to evolve, we are going to develop, we are going to grow and we are going to fight for the players’ rights of having a more significant seat at the table of the decision-making process for whatever area of the topic we are talking about in the tennis world, both men and women,” and urges the players to join them.”
Novak Djokovic has urged tennis players to join his PTPA.#tennis #novakdjokovic #ptpahttps://t.co/vvdqBvpCY4
— Tennis365 (@tennis365com) August 2, 2023
As PTPA grew larger over the past couple of years, it came out with its first-ever committee. Top tennis stars Hubert Hurkacz, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Saisai Zheng, Ons Jabeur, and Paula Badosa joined Novak Djokovic, John Isner, and Vasek Pospisil in their first-ever executive committee.
Also addressing how the new generation of players are fearing the concept of joining the PTPA before having established themselves in the tennis community, Djokovic said: “They don’t want to lose what they’ve earned or what they are part of, which I understand and I don’t judge that but by supporting PTPA, you’re actually supporting yourself. You’re supporting your future.”
Why did tennis icons reject Novak Djokovic’s PTPA plea?
The PTPA aims to be the only players association dedicated to uniting and mobilizing tennis players in order to create transparency and equity throughout professional tennis. With such a meaningful and purposive objective, it is rather questionable why tennis players are not swiftly signing themselves up to the PTPA.
The criticism and unwelcoming reception of the PTPA announcement in 2020, that too from all the other 3 members of the legendary Big 4- Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray, might have been the fuel. The iconic Fedal duo believed that the PTPA was a move that will separate the players. Andy Murray backed them and pointed out how it wasn’t ‘for everyone’ as at that time, the PTPA was still in discussion with the WTA for the inclusion of women.
I agree @RafaelNadal. These are uncertain and challenging times, but I believe it’s critical for us to stand united as players, and as a sport, to pave the best way forward. https://t.co/foAmiLVrdV
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) August 29, 2020
Since then the PTPA has been more clear with its purpose and has received support from former and current players. The retired Grand Slam champion, Pat Cash explicitly expressed his support: “The ATP needs to grow some cojones and they need to have a player’s union and Novak is 100% right and all other players are 100% behind him and they need to have their own voice.”
It is safe to say that the PTPA is developing. What are your thoughts on this association and Novak’s lead on this project? Let us know in the comments below!
