Break(ing) Point? The Antitrust Battle that Could Transform Professional Tennis

On March 18, 2025, the Professional Tennis Players Association (“PTPA”) filed a lawsuit against the governing bodies of professional tennis in New York federal court, alleging antitrust violations in how the pro tour is managed^[1]. The New York suit was filed alongside two other actions in the United Kingdom^[2] (“UK”) and European Union^[3] (“EU”) centering around the same set of factual allegations^[4]. This article will discuss the specific issues brought in the U.S. case.

The PTPA is suing the Association of Tennis Professionals (“ATP”), the Women’s Tennis Association (“WTA”), the International Tennis Federation (“ITF”), and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (“ITIA”)—the organizations that control the professional tennis circuit. The lawsuit accuses these entities of suppressing player wages, disregarding player health, and engaging in a wide range of anticompetitive behaviors. The case could potentially have significant implications for the sport’s governance, business model, and player compensation.