🎾 Bombshell Lawsuit Hits Tennis

Happy Tuesday! Tennis faces transformation on and off court as the PTPA's lawsuit against governing bodies coincides with Miami's parade of breakout stars and shocking upsets. Clicks on our ad’s links help support independent tennis journalism, we appreciate your help!

In this week's newsletter:

• ⚖️ The PTPA vs Governing Tennis Bodies: The Legal Battle Explained

• 🎾 Weekly Roundup: The Miami Edition

• ⭐ Player Spotlight: Filipino Tennis Rises with Alexandra Eala

🧠 Tennis Trivia Challenge 🧠

Think you know your tennis? Take a swing at this week’s question!

Looking for unbiased, fact-based news? Join 1440 today.

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

Subscribe to 1440 today.

⚖️ PTPA vs Governing Tennis Bodies: The Legal Battle Explained ⚖️

30-Second Summary

The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) has filed lawsuits in the US, UK, and EU against the ATP, WTA, ITF, and ITIA, accusing them of operating as a "cartel" that exploits players. Twelve pros, including PTPA co-founder Vasek Pospisil and Nick Kyrgios, are plaintiffs. The lawsuit alleges these organizations suppress competition, cap prize money, and impose unsustainable working conditions. The goal: reform what players call a "broken" system that prioritizes profits over players.

Core Complaints & Alleged Violations

• Prize Money Disparity: Tennis players earn 17% of revenue, compared to 35-50% in other sports. The PTPA notes the US Open made $12.8 million from a cocktail, exceeding both singles champions’ combined prize money.

• Unrelenting Schedule: The 11-month season spans six continents with little recovery time, forcing players to choose between health and income.

• Player Welfare: Late-night matches, extreme heat, and changing ball types contribute to injuries.

• Collusion and Competition Suppression: Governing bodies allegedly block new tournaments and limit player earnings.

• Ranking System Control: A restrictive points system forces players into sanctioned events, limiting alternatives.

• Financial and Privacy Exploitation: Players forfeit name and image rights without pay, face sponsorship limits, undergo random night-time drug tests, and have devices searched without consent.

Mixed Player Reactions

Support is split. Novak Djokovic, PTPA co-founder, voiced partial support but didn't join as a plaintiff: "There are things I agree with, and things I don't." Coco Gauff acknowledged revenue-sharing concerns but said, "I get paid pretty well to do what I love." Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev have distanced themselves, exposing fractures in the player community as the legal battle unfolds.

🎾 Weekly Roundup: The Miami Edition 🎾

For the first time in Masters 1000 history, all four Indian Wells men's semifinalists lost their opening matches in Miami. Jack Draper fell to Jakub Menšik, Holger Rune to Reilly Opelka, Carlos Alcaraz to David Goffin, and Daniil Medvedev to Jaume Munar, creating an unprecedented upset streak across the American tournaments.

Djokovic surpasses Rafael Nadal's record for most Masters 1000 match wins, reaching 411 career victories at this level. His straight-sets win over Camilo Ugo Carabelli in Miami pushed him past Nadal's 410, adding to his collection of Masters records that includes most titles (40) and finals (59).

Nadal seems unfazed by record loss as his academy stars shine in Miami. Alexandra Eala (see Player Spotlight) and Coleman Wong made history, becoming the first from the Philippines and Hong Kong, respectively, to defeat top-ranked opponents. The retired champion proudly celebrated their achievements on social media.

Emma Raducanu splits with coach Vlado Pláteník after just 14 days. "I never had a player improve as fast," he said, noting her footwork and serving gains that have helped her reach the Miami Open quarterfinals.

João Fonseca turns Miami into Rio with electric crowd support during his breakthrough run. The 18-year-old Brazilian sensation defeated Learner Tien before upsetting Humbert. "Am I in Brazil?" Fonseca wrote on the camera as passionate Brazilian fans created a soccer-like atmosphere throughout the grounds.

Canadian teen Victoria Mboko has taken tennis by storm, winning her first 25 matches in 2025 while capturing five ITF titles. The 18-year-old continued to impress in Miami, defeating world No. 54 Camila Osorio 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 in her WTA 1000 debut, before taking Paula Badosa to a third-set tiebreaker, who remarked she was "playing better than Sabalenka."

⭐ Player Spotlight: Filipino Tennis Rises with Alexandra Eala ⭐

At just 13, Alexandra Eala left Manila for Rafael Nadal's Academy in Mallorca, dedicating the next seven years to honing her craft under his coaching team. Now 19, she’s the only Filipino in the ATP or WTA top 1000, determined to put her country on the tennis map. The 2022 US Open junior champion has been primed for a breakthrough since her WTA Future Stars debut in 2016.

Eala's stunning 6-4, 6-2 win over world No. 5 and Australian Open champion Madison Keys marks a watershed moment for Filipino tennis. Following her defeat of former Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko, she becomes the first Filipino to defeat both a top 30 and top 10 player in the Open Era. As a wild card, she now has more Miami Open main-draw wins than all past Filipino players combined.

Her game thrives on smart baseline play, relentless defense, and left-handed angles that keep opponents off balance. With just 21 unforced errors to Keys’ 51, she showcased tactical maturity, extending rallies in classic Nadal fashion. Eala's emotional celebrations reveal the passion driving her quest to elevate Filipino tennis globally. As Nadal himself tweeted: "Congratulations Alex! What a great win for you and for the Philippines!"

🎥 Reel of the Week 🎥

We reached 4,000 followers on Instagram! Make sure to follow us if you haven’t yet! Here’s our most popular reel from last week, which has already received 105,000 views!