Djokovic, on a possible boycott: "Players know they will always have my support"

Andrés Tomás Rico | 7 May 2026 | 17.57

Djokovic, on a possible boycott: "Players know they will always have my support." Photo: Gettyimages

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Everyone was awaiting the opinion of Novak Djokovic on the current topic: complaints about Roland Garros prize money and a possible boycott. The Serbian has always been one of the most critical players of the established tennis system, which led him to found the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) in 2020, though he distanced himself from it earlier this year.

Upon his arrival at the Masters 1000 in Rome, where he will make his clay court season debut less than three weeks before Roland Garros, Djokovic did not miss the opportunity to address this topic. He did so from an outsider's perspective and took the chance to pride himself on all his efforts to enhance the conditions for all players. And in case there were doubts, yes, Novak Djokovic would support a boycott.

Novak Djokovic would support a boycott and recalls all he fought for to improve the players' lives

"Players know they will always have my support, and that's it. The new generations are emerging, and I am glad there is willingness from our sport's leaders, such as Sabalenka, to step up and truly understand how tennis politics work, grasp the nuances and what truly needs to be done, not just for one's benefit and well-being but for everyone."

"We are all part of the same sport. We are all trying to elevate tennis, whether players, tournaments, or governing bodies. Unfortunately, many times there are conflicts of interest that some people do not want to address. That's where I believe players truly hold power."

He sees everything differently after years of intense struggle

"Honestly, now I observe it more from the outside. I have not taken part in those meetings or conversations. But my stance is crystal clear: I support the players and will always advocate for a stronger player position within the ecosystem."

Explaining the reasons that led to founding the PTPA union

"I like that there are more discussions about this. There must be because the players' position is not where it should be regarding the Grand Slams and circuits. Overall, it's not where it should be. That's why I co-founded the players' association, the PTPA. That was my search for a deeper and more meaningful solution, a bit outside the system because the system is structured in a way that does not truly benefit players at all levels."

He insists the demands are mainly for lower-ranked players

"Something else that needs to be said is that in the past, they often misrepresented my words, especially saying that I was asking for more money for myself, even when I was winning Grand Slams."

"But we are talking about lower-ranked players, the grassroots of professional tennis, those who struggle and leave the sport due to lack of funding. I believe we are the only global sport in this situation where there are no certain economic guarantees for lower-ranked players. I don't know if that has changed in recent years."

He dreams that all players can make a living from tennis

"In the PTPA, we conducted studies and research on how many players, both men and women, in singles and doubles, actually make a living from this sport. And the number is very small. When we talk about making a living from this sport, we mean having money left after covering all expenses, travel, support staff, and more to save or invest. And very few can do that."

"In the end, this will always be an ongoing debate. Tennis, like any major global sport, is a huge business. It's not simple. It must be approached from all sides, with a willingness to collaborate and find a suitable formula. It should also be noted that the monopoly within our sport is very strong. If we go back to the founding of the ATP, in the late 80s or early 90s, tennis has changed a lot, but certain internal structures remain exactly the same."

He laments the players' little power in the ATP council

"Players within the Council have very little power actually. I was there. I was the President of the Council for many years. From the outside, it may seem that there is power because players elect representatives, then there is a board of directors and an entire structure, but everything is designed in a way that players cannot truly get what they want."

"That's why the top players are coming together and trying to negotiate directly with the Grand Slams, and I think that is the right path. Ways must be found to benefit the players," concludes Novak Djokovic, who also joins the players' movement but in a more understated role.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Djokovic, sobre un posible boicot: "Los jugadores saben que siempre tendrán mi apoyo"