Your move, tennis suits

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Drama is brewing in the game of tennis and Zendaya is nowhere near it this time. The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), a group co-founded by Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil and financially backed by Bill Ackman, sued a group of the sport’s governing bodies yesterday over working conditions. The lawsuit, which also names 12 pro players as plaintiffs, claims athletes are “stuck in a rigged game,” alleging that the bodies engage in monopolistic practices that put players’ financial and physical health at risk. Some grievances aired by players in the 163-page suit include allegations of: Longer tournaments and inconsistent scheduling, which make some pros play at all hours of the night. Excessive anti-doping checks. Minuscule prize payouts compared to other high-profile sports. The governing bodies also allegedly have an iron grip on players’ image rights, which prevents them from making money with sponsorships. Mandatory participation rules and tournaments changing the type of balls they use, which the suit alleges can lead to more injuries. Big picture. The lawsuit is the biggest push by top players to literally change the game. But it’s not the only country club sport looking for a pay bump: Three years ago, the game of golf was splintered when the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV league courted top players with wads of cash.—MM