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The tennis world is buzzing after America’s World No. 3 Coco Gauff and a fellow Grand Slam champion weighed in on the Professional Tennis Players Association’s (PTPA) bombshell lawsuit against the ATP and WTA tours. The legal action, filed in a New York federal court, accuses tennis’ governing bodies of operating as a “cartel” by enforcing an “unsustainable” 11-month calendar, unequal prize money distribution, and ranking systems that allegedly exploit athletes.
As Gauff cruised into the Miami Open’s second round with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 win over Sofia Kenin, she and another elite player broke their silence on the controversy—but not everyone is fully onboard with the PTPA’s approach.
Coco Gauff and Rival Star Share Candid Views
Gauff, while supportive of improving player conditions, admitted she’s still digesting the lawsuit’s details.
“I found out when everyone else did,” the US Open champion confessed. “I’m all for making the sport better, but I don’t know the specifics. For me, the biggest thing is a higher percentage of revenue in prize money… But I’m a pro athlete paid well to do what I love. If you compare it to other sports, yes, we could improve. But compared to other jobs? I won’t complain.”
Coco Gauff also stressed equity for women:
“Making tournaments equal to the men in prize money and visibility matters.”
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka echoed Gauff’s call for fairness. “Players deserve more percentage from tournaments, especially Slams,” the Belarusian asserted. “Look at other sports—their revenue splits are different. That’s my only wish.”
Inside the PTPA’s “Cartel” Allegations
The 163-page lawsuit, backed by stars like Nick Kyrgios and Vasek Pospisil, slams the ATP, WTA, ITF, and ITIA for “anticompetitive practices” that allegedly suppress earnings and endanger player health. PTPA director Ahmad Nassar called tennis “broken,” claiming dialogue failed: “Players are trapped in an unfair system. This isn’t about disrupting tennis—it’s about saving it.”
Key grievances include:
Prize Money Disparity: Players receive ~15% of Grand Slam revenue vs. ~50% in leagues like the NBA.
Grueling Schedule: An 11-month season with minimal recovery time.
Lack of Transparency: Rankings and revenue models favoring tournaments over athletes.
Why this lawsuit could reshape tennis
While Coco Gauff and Sabalenka stop short of full-throated endorsement, their critiques highlight simmering frustration. The PTPA argues that without legal pressure, reforms like equal pay and calendar adjustments will stall. Yet, as Sabalenka noted, “It’s about fairness, not just money.”
For now, the ball is in the courts—both literally and figuratively. Whether this lawsuit becomes a rallying cry or a fault line, one thing’s clear: Players are done staying silent.
