The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) is taking decisive action by enlisting three powerhouse global law firms to advocate for concrete improvements in professional tennis worldwide. Spearheaded by the formidable Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, this comprehensive no-holds barred effort will scrutinize both tours, the ITF, Grand Slams, ITIA, and beyond.
This bold move comes in response to overwhelming evidence that the current professional tennis system is fundamentally broken, failing players, fans, commercial partners, and other stakeholders alike. The PTPA is determined to protect players, prioritize their interests, and transform the sport for the better — for all involved.
Exposing the Systemic Failures
The tennis establishment has repeatedly failed to address critical player concerns. In late 2023, the PTPA launched a review process to tackle the alarming rise in player welfare issues. Despite engaging in good faith negotiations since that time, the players and PTPA have been met with empty promises and inaction.
Ahmad Nassar, PTPA Executive Director, minces no words: “Despite repeated promises and public proclamations, governing bodies have shown little urgency in making meaningful, lasting improvements. Over the last few years, player welfare issues—spanning scheduling, prize money, the anti-doping program, and beyond—have only worsened. Players cannot wait indefinitely for the governing bodies to act and the passage of time shows that nothing will change without outside pressure. This is a vital step in building player leverage and ensuring real improvements are made.”
Demanding Radical Change
The PTPA is unequivocally committed to overhauling the sport, focusing on the issues hundreds of players have highlighted over the years. These problems include:
- Tour structure: (a) implementing a fair and logical calendar with a meaningful off-season, adequate recovery time, and elimination of late-night matches; (b) anti-doping: establishing a clear, consistent anti-doping program with timely appeals and full due process.
- Governance/Rules: securing independent player representation with legal obligations to prioritize players’ interests, including revamping and making rules fairer, more transparent, and with some meaningful choice for players.
- Compensation/Number of Tours: dramatically increasing prize money at existing and new tours for professional men and women, including doubles players, with a clear roadmap for revenue sharing, minimum salary, annual bonus pool, and comprehensive benefits.
Legal Powerhouse Takes Charge
Jim Quinn, co-lead counsel and a legendary player advocate, declares, “In my long career, I have never encountered a situation like I see with professional tennis players. I and the entire legal team look forward to fixing and optimizing the sport for decades to come.” Over his extensive career, Mr. Quinn has been recognized as a leading figure in sports antitrust litigation and has represented major players’ associations in leagues such as Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Football League (NFL), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the National Hockey League (NHL).
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP’s team, led by Drew Tulumello, Eric Hochstadt, and Zach Schreiber, also bring a formidable track record of player advocacy, including most recently exposing widespread misconduct in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) through a year-long investigation, challenging MLB’s antitrust exemption in 2023 at the United States Supreme Court, and representing individual athletes in legal challenges against the wrongful enforcement of league rules in federal courts. Tulumello, the co-Head of Weil’s Complex Commercial Litigation Group says, “Professional tennis players have had enough. For too long, the ATP, WTA, and the professional tennis system have taken advantage of world-class athletes by implementing a divide-and-conquer strategy solely to enrich themselves. We are eager to begin our work for the PTPA to drive much needed change in the sport and to make players’ voices heard.”
Ultimatum to Tennis Authorities
The legal review is underway. The PTPA and its legal teams will engage in negotiations with governing bodies. By the 2025 Australian Open, the tennis world will face an ultimatum: either concrete solutions with agreed-upon timelines will be adopted, or the PTPA and its legal arsenal will take further action to address the myriad ongoing issues.
The message is clear: the status quo is unacceptable and change is coming to professional tennis, with or without the cooperation of the current power structures.