Djokovic and Jaber head an independent union for male and female tennis players

Today, Serbian Novak Djokovic and Tunisian Anas Jaber will assume the presidency of the Professional Tennis Players Association (BTBA), which is independent of the men’s (ATB) and women’s associations (WTA). The former world number one announced the establishment of this federation on the sidelines of the US Open 2020, after leaving his position as president of the ATP Players Council, the official representative body for tennis players.

According to Djokovic, the newly founded federation does not want to oppose other global bodies but to give players more weight in decisions about sports at a professional level, particularly with regard to prize money tournaments. Six other players will participate in the federation’s executive committee: Spanish Paula Badusa, Poland’s Hubert Horkacz, American John Isner, compatriot Bethany Mattek-Sands, Canadian Vasek Pospisil, and Chinese Cheng Saisay.

The federation said in a press statement that this committee “will focus on improving players’ rights and developing the tennis market.” Last week, Djokovic confirmed that the federation is “unique in the game”, describing it as a “100% organization dedicated to the players”. “We have not been accepted or listed by the Grand Slam organizers, the WTA or the WTA, which makes it difficult,” added the 35-year-old, who is aiming to win a 22nd Australian Open title. “But this association must live,” he said, adding, “It must exist because the players, unfortunately, are not 100% represented in the world of tennis.”