Carlos Alcaraz has distanced himself from the legal action filed by the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA) against tennis’ governing bodies, stating he was unaware of its details before its announcement.
The world number two spoke about the lawsuit at the Miami Open, where he expressed surprise at the move initiated by the PTPA, a players’ union co-founded by Novak Djokovic.
“It was surprising for me because no one had told me about it,” Alcaraz, 21, told reporters. “There are things I agree with and others I don’t, but the main thing is I don’t support what was done.”
The PTPA filed its lawsuit against the ATP, WTA, International Tennis Federation (ITF), and International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), alleging monopolistic control over the sport’s structure.
The complaint challenges scheduling, ranking systems, and control over players’ image rights while seeking financial compensation.
Alcaraz also reacted to his past statements being cited in the lawsuit without his knowledge.
“Yesterday I saw on social media that they put something I said in a press conference in the documents, and I wasn’t aware of it,” he said. “I honestly don’t support that letter.”
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of 12 players including PTPA co-founder Vasek Pospisil and Nick Kyrgios, claims to represent all professional players. However, the ATP and WTA have criticised the move, with the ATP calling it a source of “division and distraction” and the WTA labelling it “regrettable and misguided.”
PTPA Executive Director Ahmed Nassar explained the decision behind the lawsuit.
Formed in 2020, the PTPA aims to shift control away from governing bodies, arguing that current structures limit prize money and enforce restrictive ranking systems. The group claims the sport is run like a “cartel” through agreements with tournaments.
Alcaraz’s comments suggest a lack of widespread player consensus on the lawsuit, raising questions about its broader support within the professional circuit.