Earlier this year, the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA) stirred major debate by taking tennis authorities to court. The PTPA, co-founded by Novak Djokovic, lodged a 163-page lawsuit against the ATP, WTA, International Tennis Federation (ITF), and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). The suit emphasized that the governing bodies have acted as a “cartel” to gain “monopolistic control” when it comes to matters such as player welfare, scheduling, and prize money. However, just weeks out from the Australian Open, the story has taken another turn as Tennis Australia moves to settle the antitrust dispute.

On December 13, Tennis Australia confirmed that it had reached an agreement to settle the antitrust suit. In the statement, the authorities said: “Tennis Australia today confirmed it has reached an agreement to settle the class action lawsuit filed in New York District Court earlier this year, without admitting any liability or wrongdoing. The settlement remains subject to final documentation and court approval processes.”

It further explained that the process is not yet complete. “The plaintiffs’ lawyers have applied to the court to continue the stay of proceedings against Tennis Australia while settlement documentation is completed,” the statement added, outlining the next legal steps required.

Tennis Australia also highlighted why it sought an early resolution. It said, “Early resolution allows Tennis Australia to focus entirely on delivering an outstanding Australian summer of tennis and continuing to invest in the growth of our sport.” The timing is significant with the new season just days away.

The PTPA responded through its executive director, Ahmad Nassar. Speaking via text message, Nassar said the organization hoped cooperation would improve. He stated that the PTPA wished that “everyone would make more effort to resolve these matters for the benefit of players, fans, and tournaments alike as soon as possible.”

However, among its main concerns, the association has taken issue with the tours’ prize money structure, the “unsustainable” 11-month calendar, and what it describes as invasive searches of players’ personal devices. In fact, the said issues heralded the start of the PTPA and featured Novak Djokovic at the forefront.

Other tennis bodies offered a limited reaction. A spokesperson for the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) confirmed awareness of the settlement but declined further comment due to ongoing legal proceedings. Representatives of the other three Grand Slam tournaments did not immediately respond to media requests.

Despite the settlement, legal manoeuvres continued elsewhere. The organizers of Wimbledon, along with the French and US Open, filed a new joint motion to dismiss the lawsuit. They maintained their opposition to the claims raised. Separately, the French Tennis Federation and the All England Lawn Tennis Club argued that a US court lacks jurisdiction over them. The US Tennis Association sought arbitration with some named players. 

The PTPA has also filed complaints in Europe and the United Kingdom, continuing its support for players even as the season begins.

PTPA supports Iga Swiatek amid growing concerns over tour scheduling

Last month, the PTPA highlighted Iga Swiątek’s concerns by re-sharing one of her comments on X. The post referenced an interview she gave to ESPN, where she openly criticized the WTA’s mandatory tournament structure and its impact on players.

Świątek said, “WTA, with all these mandatory rules, they made this pretty crazy for us. I don’t think any top player will actually be able to achieve this, playing the six 500 tournaments. It’s just impossible to squeeze it in the schedule.” Her remarks reflected growing frustration among elite players.

She also stressed the need to prioritize health over regulations. She added, “I think we have to be smart about it, not really, unfortunately, care about the rules and just think what’s healthy for us.” 

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Alongside the quote, the PTPA posted a firm message of support. It said, “This is about more than money — it’s about dignity, safety, and respect. Iga Świątek is calling out the impossible demands placed on players — from mandatory rules to overloaded schedules that ignore what’s actually healthy.” The message underlined the organization’s stance.

This support reflects a long-running battle led by the PTPA to defend player interests. The lawsuit against tennis authorities is only one part of the pressure being applied. In recent months, leading players have also held separate talks with the four Grand Slams.

Those discussions focused on prize money and pension contributions. Players argued they deserve a larger share of tournament revenues. While prize money continues to rise, it usually accounts for only 15 to 22% of total revenues, despite figures like the US Open’s $85 million purse this year.

Both efforts aim to bring tennis closer to other sports with collective bargaining agreements. Tennis players remain independent contractors with no teams to negotiate on their behalf. While this allows scheduling freedom, dissatisfaction has grown.

Players such as Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Świątek, Coco Gauff, and Taylor Fritz have said the longer season is physically and mentally draining. 

And now, with Tennis Australia agreeing to a settlement before the new season, do you think the other Grand Slams will follow and agree to the lawsuit by the end of 2026?