Novak Djokovic, Ons Jabeur to join PTPA committee along with six other players

• Novak Djokovic and Ons Jabeur will serve on the inaugural executive committee of the PTPA.
• Co-founders Vasek Pospisil, John Isner, and Bethanie Mattek-Sands also join the group.
• The breakaway organisation aims to give players more influence over a variety of issues.

Six additional athletes will join Novak Djokovic and Ons Jabeur, the second-ranked player in the world for women, to create the contentious Professional Tennis Players Association’s first executive committee (PTPA).

In 2020, Djokovic and others unveiled the breakaway organisation for the first time, dividing the sport in the process.

The PTPA seeks to expand player influence at the expense of the ATP and WTA, the two current governing bodies.

Vasek Pospisil, a co-founder, will also serve on the inaugural executive committee.

Hubert Hurkacz and Paula Badosa, who are both ranked 11th in their respective rankings, John Isner and Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States, as well as Zheng Saisai of China, will join the Canadian.

Djokovic, a 21-time Grand Slam champion and one of tennis’ most recognisable figures, resigned as president of the ATP Player Council to lead the PTPA, a group that faced criticism for first only accepting male players.

Djokovic added that they were “not calling for boycotts or parallel tours,” and that he thought a new organisation and ATP could coexist.

It aims to give players more influence over a variety of issues.

Players have pushed for a bigger cut of the money made by tournaments lately, especially the Grand Slams. Currently, the number of players and events in the ATP and WTA are equal.

Prior to the Australian Open the following week, the executive committee of the PTPA will be formally introduced.

“There’s every indicator out there now that this will be a huge moment for our sport,” Pospisil told the media.

“Every player that we have on there is so respected, very well-liked, intelligent. They’ll be huge assets and we’re very lucky that they’ve joined.”

He added: “Ultimately, I could see why they [current bodies] would want to keep the status quo

“It’s only fair and right that players have their association just as most other sports do.”

Last week, Djokovic expressed his hope that more athletes will see the PTPA’s potential and added, “This association needs to live.”

The release of a set of guiding principles is expected the following week.

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