Novak Djokovic Quits Professional Tennis Players Association Over Concerns

Novak Djokovic announced he is stepping back from the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) amid concerns, five years after he and Vasek Pospisil launched the organization.

Novak Djokovic is retreating to the baseline.

The tennis legend announced that “after careful consideration, “he is stepping away from the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), the organization he and fellow player Vasek Pospisil launched in 2020.

“This decision comes after ongoing concerns regarding transparency, governance, and the way my voice and image have been represented,” he continued in his Jan. 4 message shared to X. “I am proud of the vision that Vasek and I shared when founding the PTPA, giving players a stronger, independent voice – but it has become clear that my values and approach are no longer aligned with the current direction of the organization.”

And while he noted he wishes the organization and the players involved the best, Novak plans to redirect his efforts to a different front

“I will continue to focus on my tennis, my family, and contributing to the sport in ways that reflect my principles and integrity,” the 38-year-old said. “But for me, this chapter is now closed.”

Since its inception, the PTPA has advocated for a larger proportion of revenue from the Grand Slams to go towards prize money—something players both in and out of the organization have been fighting for. (The current figure is 15 to 20 percent, per The Athletic, while leagues such as the NBA, NFL and MLB award closer to 50 percent.)

Most significantly, however, was the antitrust lawsuit the PTPA filed in March against the four Grand Slam tournaments, as well as the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tours.

Since filing the lawsuit, the PTPA and Australian Open have reached a settlement, while Wimbledon, the US Open and the French Open plus the two tours have sought to have the suit dismissed.

Following Novak’s announcement, the PTPA released a statement in its defense, though it did not name the Serbian player.

“Players created the PTPA to secure a stronger, more transparent voice in professional tennis,” the organization wrote on X. “The PTPA is governed by players and operates with open communication, collaborative decisions, and regular engagement. We always welcome the opportunity to address issues with any player, and remain available to do so.”

The PTPA also called out its litigation against the tours and Slams, noting it sought “to advance reforms related to governance, transparency, and player rights,” and in turn claims it has become the “targets of a coordinated defamation and witness intimidation campaign through the spreading of inaccurate and misleading narratives intended to discredit.”

The organization noted it is working with legal counsel, law enforcement and players “to evaluate all available options to address the spread of misinformation” and that in the meantime, the PTPA remains committed to its “mission: pursuing meaningful reforms for all players.”

But while Novak is fighting for transparency on the court, IRL it’s all love for him and his colleagues. Keep reading to see the pairs who were game, set, match.

Ben Shelton

A new sporting power couple emerged when the tennis player and soccer star Trinity Rodman sealed their relationship with a kiss on Instagram in March 2025.

And she’s been a stalwart supporter throughout the Grand Slam tournaments, including slamming reporters who invoked her estranged dad Dennis Rodman by emphasizing the refocus on Shelton’s successes at Wimbledon.

“For Ben’s matches he has his family there as his support system, which includes his dad,” Rodman wrote on her July 7 Instagram story, calling out the Wimbledon broadcasters for their commentary about her family. “My dads not even in MY life no need to bring him up during HIS matches when I don’t even want him talked about during mine.”

Taylor Fritz

Fritz made his relationship with Morgan Riddle official in 2020 after first meeting on Raya, and the influencer has stood by her boyfriend’s side as he’s worked us way up the ATP rankings.

“I met him and started travelling with him on the tour a few months later,” she told E! News in 2024. “And now, it’s been almost four years of that.”

And the duo have often shared glimpses into their romance. In fact, Fritz—who was married to fellow tennis player Raquel Pedraza from 2016 to 2019 and welcomed son Jordan in 2017—and Riddle were featured on the Netflix series, Break Point, which explored the world of competitive tennis.

Coco Gauff

As of 2023, two-time grand slam champion was purposely keeping her love life private.

“I think I felt like I just, some parts of myself I love to share and then some parts I think I just keep to myself,” she told People in March 2023. “So I do feel like my life is a little bit in my hands too.”

Still, her boyfriend—whose fourth-grade teacher was coincidentally Gauff’s mom—has proven to be an important sounding board. “Last night, I started a little bit, but honestly, I just called my boyfriend,” Gauff told reporters about her 2023 US Open Win. “And I told him let’s talk until it’s time to go to sleep so we spoke until 1:00 am and then I went to sleep.”

Grigor Dimitrov

Dimitrov and Eiza González made their relationship Instagram official in May 2025, just one month after sparking romance rumors. And since then, the Baby Driver star hasn’t held back in showing her support for the athlete throughout the ups and downs—including after having to Withdraw from the Wimbledon in early July 2025 due to a mid-match injury.

“Love of my life. I couldn’t be more proud of you,” González wrote on her Instagram Story July 7. “This is just a moment that will pass and will make you even stronger. But watching you today alongside the world was a reminder of who YOU are. You’re a winner. We all saw it. And you’ll do it again. I love you.”

Alex De Minaur & Katie Boulter

After almost five years of dating, the tennis stars announced their engagement in 2024, with Boulter captioning the happy moment, “We’ve been keeping a small secret.”

The pair met in 2020 at a hotel where they were both staying. “We bumped into each other at six in the morning and ended up getting a coffee,” Boulter recalled to the Sydney Morning Herald in June 2024. “From that moment, I knew I was in it for the long haul.”

Naomi Osaka

In January 2025, the four-time grand slam champion her confirmed breakup with rapper Cordae after five years together. And while emphasizing that they remain friends, she expressed gratitude over their romance as it brought them their little girl Shai.

“Honestly really glad that our paths crossed because my daughter is my biggest blessing,” Osaka wrote at the time. “And I was able to grow a lot from our experiences together.”

Tommy Paul

Paul may have the skills on the court, but girlfriend Paige Lorenze, with whom he began dating in 2022, is a go-to coach when it comes to life outside the sport.

“She’s been on me about, I guess it’s self-care,” Paul told People in April 2025. “But just putting on more sunscreen and doing moisturizer at night.”

Still, Lorenze is no stranger to picking up a racket. “I’m not going to lie, I’m pretty impressed,” he gushed about his girlfriend’s tennis game. “She plays pretty good, she has the strokes down. She knows what she’s doing on the court.”

Gael Monfils & Elina Svitolina

The tennis stars are in sync on and off the court. In fact, they met after Svitolina won the 2018 WTA Finals in Singapore before tying the knot in July 2021. A little over a year later, they welcomed their baby girl Skaï.

“I had the most amazing night of my life, which ended with the most beautiful girl around 6:00 am. Elina was strong and brave,” Monfils wrote on Instagram in October 2022. “I can’t thx enough, my wife, and God, for this special moment. Welcome to the world, my little princess Skaï.”