Tennis Players Union launches lawsuit to play less and earn more

Tennis players around the world have gone to court to sue the World's governing bodies in the sport, it has been announced.

The Professional Tennis Players' Association (PTPA) has filed papers at the United States District Court in New York, where it is seeking a jury trial.

The 163-page lawsuit, as reported by BBC Sport, says "Professional tennis players are stuck in a rigged game" which gives them "limited control over their careers and brands".

It criticizes the schedule, ranking systems, and control over image rights.

The lawsuit seeks an end to "monopolistic control" of the tennis tour, as well as financial compensation from the ATP, the WTA, the International Tennis Federation (ITF), and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).

The union describes the ranking points system as "draconian" as it effectively forces a player to enter their tournaments in order to build a status and reputation as a professional.

The lawsuit also takes aim at an "unsustainable" schedule that runs for 11 months of the year and can require players to compete in excessive heat or in the early hours of the morning.

It alleges players suffer serious wrist, elbow, and shoulder injuries because the type of ball used changes regularly throughout the season, and that the governing bodies' control of image rights diverts money from players' pockets.

The Union was registered in 2020 and sees some of the biggest names in Tennis such as Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios behind it.

Djokovic has been fighting with the ATP tour and Tennis authorities since the advent of COVID 19, where he was restricted from competing in several tournaments because he did not take a COVID vaccination.