Nick Kyrgios supports PTPA lawsuit against tennis governing bodies

Nick Kyrgios, one of the most famous tennis players today, was one of the signatories of the lawsuit filed by the PTPA (Professional Tennis Players Association) in court in New York. Kyrgios, who played only three matches this season, believes that the current system in tennis is not fair and that it is necessary to make changes in order to improve the future of this sport.

The PTPA was founded in 2020 by Novak Đoković and Vasek Pospisil, and their goal was to improve the rights and conditions for professional tennis players. In their 164-page lawsuit, they accuse the ATP, WTA, ITF and ITIA of corruption and illegal practices in the way they run tennis. In his interview with Sky Sports, Kyrgios explained the reasons that led them to file this lawsuit.

Nick Kyrgios's reaction to the current situation in tennis

"I had the feeling that people knew what was going on behind the scenes, but no one was talking about it," Kyrgios said.

He, like Pospisil and Djokovic, wanted to change something for the benefit of the future of tennis. 

"I know many of us are not happy with the current system, but this is just the beginning," he added. 

The lawsuit encompasses numerous streams, and Kyrgios believes that this step will mark a turning point in the world of tennis.

One of the key demands of the PTPA is to reduce the number of mandatory tournaments for tennis players, because the 11-month season puts too much pressure on the players and allows them too little time to rest. The lawsuit also points out that tennis players receive only 17% of tournament revenue, while in other sports the share is often between 35% and 50%. This is a problem that many tennis professionals consider unfair.

In addition, the PTPA stresses that the health and safety of tennis players is often neglected, as matches often last late into the night and players are forced to perform in very high temperatures, which can have long-term effects on their health.

Kyrgios concludes: "Tennis is the only sport that does not have its own player association. Our wish was for the players' voice to be recognized, because we feel that they did not listen to us." 

Given the current situation, he feels that things will change soon, as the time has come to rethink the way tennis is run.