Stan Smith comments on the unfortunate state of tennis issues. – Mike Segar/Reuters
Former world No. 1, Stan Smith, told CNN Sports that it is “unfortunate” to see tennis grappling with “a lot of the same issues we had 50 years ago.”
His remarks follow actions taken by the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA), co-founded by Novak Djokovic, which has filed multiple lawsuits worldwide against the governing bodies of the sport.
The lawsuits claim a “monopolization” of both men’s and women’s tennis and highlight a “disregard” for players’ interests, alleging that the governing bodies operate “as a cartel.” The ATP and WTA have responded by stating they will defend themselves “vigorously.”
“It’s unfortunate that a group of players in the Players’ Association, including ATP and WTA, isn’t able to reach a resolution,” Smith remarked. He pointed out that while player conditions have significantly improved, the ongoing concern regarding prize money in major tournaments should still be addressed through negotiation.
Recently, it was reported by French sports outlet L’Équipe that top-ranked male and female players co-signed a letter addressed to major Grand Slam organizers, demanding a “substantial increase” in prize money. Qinweng Zheng, last year’s women’s singles gold medalist, deemed this letter a “positive” advancement for tennis.
Throughout his career, Smith has had significant influence in both tennis and fashion, famously associated with an Adidas sneaker. He recalls how in the late 1960s, players left amateur status to compete professionally, leading to the Open Era of tennis. Smith expressed skepticism regarding the current lawsuit’s potential for unity, given that many top players, including world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, were unaware of it. Djokovic, despite his involvement with the PTPA, noted he didn’t sign the suit as he wanted other players to take initiative.
