When Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil formed the Professional Tennis Players Association in 2019, the reason was that neither liked the transparency that the governing bodies of tennis handled, among other things, drug tests. They had good reason to be peeved.
The issue isn't so much how much a player is tested, but the inconsistent punishment handed down on a player-by-player basis. For instance, Jannik Sinner served a suspension in 2025 for a failed drug test in 2024, but originally, he might have missed as much as a year. Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek failed a test and served just a one-month ban.
Ironically, however, Djokovic has now decided to step away as part of the leadership of the PTPA because of the PTPA's seemingly lack of transparency. In 2025, the PTPA began a legal battle with the sport's governing bodies, and the situation appeared to have caught Djokovic unaware. In other words, the organization he thought he had founded was no longer the one he was involved in.
Novak Djokovic decides to step away from the Professional Tennis Players Association
The 24-time Grand Slam winner made the announcement of his split with the PTPA on his X account on Sunday, and he made clear what the issue was. He did say he was proud of the work the organization had done, but the difference in approach was obviously too great for him to stay involved.
Djokovic wrote, "After careful consideration, I have decided to step away completely from the Professional Tennis Players Association. This decision comes after ongoing concerns regarding transparency, governance, and the way my voice and image have been represented."
It isn't completely clear what the issue with his "voice and image" was, but it could simply be that Novak Djokovic did not agree with the ongoing legal battle between tennis and the PTPA, but as he still plays the sport, there could eventually be a conflict of interest, maybe even more than the one that already existed, that would happen.
The Professional Tennis Players Association's continued existence without one of its founders is unknown. One would assume that the organization's power, whatever level that is, would be diminished without Djokovic's involvement. The hope, though, is that its original goals (better pay for lower-ranked players, more transparency, etc.) continue without arguably the greatest player ever.