On March 18, 2025, the Professional Tennis Players Association (“PTPA”) served a message to not only the world of tennis but also to the broader sports industry: antitrust behavior does not belong in professional sports. The PTPA, founded by former and current tennis players, advocates for players’ rights and interests and aims to maximize the power of a united player organization. (PTPA) The PTPA, accompanied by 14 named professional tennis players (and collectively with the PTPA, the “Complainants”), filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of New York against four tennis organizations, including the Association of Tennis Professionals (“ATP”) and Women’s Tennis Association (“WTA”). Compl. ¶ 3, Pospisil v. ATP Tour, Inc., 1:25-cv-02207, (S.D.N.Y. Mar 18, 2025). These two organizations dominate and control the sport by being the two main governing bodies and controlling the rankings for both men’s and women’s players. (Wilson). These organizations require that their players compete in 8-12 specific tournaments to earn points, and playing in non-sanctioned tournaments will not earn players any points. Id. Points and rankings play a vital role in players’ overall reputation and earnings throughout their careers. (Edara).

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