The Professional Tennis Player Association (PTPA) say their newly founded executive committee will utilise the ‘diversified perspectives and career experiences’ of its members.
In the lead-up to the Australian Open, the organisation has named eight people who have agreed to join their Player Executive Committee. Among those are Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur and Paula Badosa. Also included are Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil who co-founded and launched the PTPA in 2020. Djokovic quit his position as president of the ATP Players Council to form the PTPA which campaigns for players to have more power in the decision-making process of the sport.
“This organization was founded on the belief that every player must be respected, protected and guaranteed their rights, and the PTPA Principles will serve as our compass to ensure we live up to those standards. The PTPA will thrive only through collective voice and the strength and solidarity of the players. We are prepared to face both the challenges and opportunities ahead to advance the rights of all players,” Pospisil said in a statement.
Other members of the group include John Isner who has been linked to the association for months. The American is listed on their financial documents as a director of the PTPA alongside Djokovic and Pospisil. However, neither Isner nor the organisation has ever publicly commented on this. There is also no reference to Isner being a director on the PTPA website despite a document saying he is on the Canadian government website (ic.gc.ca).
Hubert Hurkacz, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Zheng Saisai are the other members.
The PTPA has been surrounded by controversy since its launch with the ATP originally advising its players to not join the organisation. Critics say such a union will only divide the sport more instead of uniting it. However, Djokovic and Co argue that the bodies can work together and tennis should follow the example set by other sports.
“We are grateful to have this extraordinarily accomplished and diverse group of women and men serve on our first Player Executive Committee. These individuals represent some of the strongest and most passionate voices in professional tennis, and they will have a profound impact on our efforts at the PTPA to serve all players,” said PTPA Executive Director Ahmad Nassar.
It is by no means a coincidence that such an announcement has been made less than a week before the Australian Open. One of the aims of the PTPA is campaigning for players to receive a bigger share of the revenue generated by the Grand Slams.
Going forward, future PTPA Committees will be decided by vote with the first scheduled to take place in December. Members are allowed one vote for somebody of their own gender who has put their name forward for election.
The PTPA is said to have hundreds of members from both men’s and women’s Tour but no official figure has ever been provided. Djokovic has previously said the organisation doesn’t intend to boycott events or form an alternative Tour.
There is yet to be a response from the ATP or WTA regarding the latest development.
