In a seismic development for professional tennis, Novak Djokovic has completely withdrawn his support from the players' union he helped to establish. The 24-time Grand Slam champion issued a statement declaring his principles are no longer in sync with the organisation's current path, dealing a potentially crippling blow to the body.
A Founding Father Steps Away
The Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA) was launched in 2019 by Djokovic and the now-retired Canadian player, Vasek Pospisil. Its aim was to give competitors a stronger, independent voice within the sport. Djokovic's decision to step away entirely, announced via a post on X (formerly Twitter), strikes at the very heart of the association as it continues a high-stakes legal fight against tennis's governing bodies.
‘After careful consideration, I have decided to step away completely from the Professional Tennis Players Association,’ Djokovic's statement read. He cited ‘ongoing concerns regarding transparency, governance, and the way my voice and image have been represented’ as key reasons for his departure. The Serbian star expressed pride in the original vision but concluded that ‘my values and approach are no longer aligned with the current direction of the organization.’
The Legal Battle and Djokovic's Hesitance
The PTPA escalated its campaign significantly in March 2025 by filing a lawsuit against what it labelled a ‘cartel’ of organisations running the sport. The legal action, which argues players are trapped in an anti-competitive system, named a dozen plaintiffs including Pospisil and the controversial Australian star Nick Kyrgios. Conspicuously absent from the plaintiff list was Djokovic himself.
This omission raised immediate questions about his full-throated support. While the PTPA presented it as a tactical move, Djokovic's subsequent comments to the media revealed clear reservations. Speaking in Miami last year, he admitted, ‘there are things that I agree with in the lawsuit, and then there are also things that I don't agree with.’ He specifically questioned the ‘quite strong’ wording, including the use of the term ‘cartel’.
Fallout and the Road Ahead
The PTPA's lawsuit, which later added Wimbledon and the other Grand Slams as defendants, did score a perceived victory by agreeing a confidential settlement with the Australian Open in late 2025. However, Djokovic's withdrawal now overshadows that progress. In response to his statement, the PTPA issued a cryptic message that did not mention Djokovic by name, instead accusing ‘non-player third parties’ of a ‘coordinated defamation and witness intimidation campaign.’
All eyes will now be on Djokovic's pre-tournament press conference at the Australian Open, which begins on 18 January. Known for addressing issues directly, he is expected to elaborate further on his reasons for leaving. For the PTPA, the loss of its most famous founding member and the sport's biggest star leaves it navigating increasingly choppy waters, attempting to continue its mission without its most powerful figurehead.
