Djokovic, Canada’s Pospisil joins other top players in the breakaway tennis players’ union

Novak Djokovic, Tunisian world number one Ons Jabeur and six other top players will form the first executive committee of the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) as it battles for a seat at the table with the sport’s governing bodies.

It’s a critical step forward for the player base that has divided the tennis world – pitting powerhouse Djokovic against the sport’s old arch – as plans for a “real seat” at the negotiating table are ramped up.

“Now there’s every sign that this is a huge moment for our sport,” Pospisil, of Vernon, B.C., told Reuters.

“Every player we’ve got there is so respected, well-liked, intelligent… They’re going to be a huge asset and we’re very lucky they’ve joined.”

It’s been more than two years since Serbia’s Djokovic and Pospisil sent shockwaves through tennis when they resigned from the ATP Players Council and announced their departure from the group.

The ATP, which runs the men’s tour, and several active players and the sport’s governing bodies have yet to publicly embrace the idea.

Djokovic said the PTPA could run alongside the ATP, which was founded by players in 1972 but now has a board that includes equal representation for tournament owners.

Independent contractors

“I finally understood why they would want to maintain the status quo,” said Pospisil. “[But]I think it’s only fair and right that the players have their associations just like most other sports do.”

Player associations are nothing new in professional sports. But unlike the National Football League and National Basketball Association, where players participate in unions, tennis players operate as independent contractors.

Executive Director Ahmad Nassar said one key challenge has been getting people to understand what the PTPA is.

“It’s an advocacy group for tennis players. Okay, cool story. But so what? What does that mean?” he told Reuters. “I think we have to respond to that.”

That response is a set of guiding principles expected to be unveiled on Wednesday, covering topics ranging from players’ welfare to their right to organize.

The simmering tension between the PTPA and the sport’s old guard comes amid a bitter split in golf, where the Saudi-backed breakaway LIV Tour lured top talent from the longtime PGA Tour, sparking a legal battle and a war of words.

Nassar added that while the PTPA was not interested in establishing the “LIV Tour of Tennis” itself, it would be willing to discuss any proposal that would increase player income if approached.

“We would engage with anyone who has an interest in ensuring that players are compensated more fairly and that more players are able to make a living playing the sport they love.”

Nassar said an annual budget of $5 million to $10 million is needed to work with athletes around the world, though it has no immediate plans to charge fees.

“For us, it’s important, you know, even $50 or $100 [dues]”Hey, we exist to benefit the professional tennis community, men and women,’ and to prove it, prove it,” he said.

“And then, you know, if it makes sense at some point down the line to be able to charge fees, maybe we’ll do that.”