Tennis Players’ Association Sues Former Top Lawyer Over Leadership Dispute

According to Reuters, in a report by David Thomas, the lawsuit was filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by the PTPA and its affiliate, Winners Alliance. The complaint seeks to prevent former general counsel Wajid Mir from representing himself as an authorized agent of the organization after his removal from the position last month.

The filing comes as the PTPA pursues what it describes as its most significant legal initiative: a sweeping antitrust case pending in federal court in New York against several of the sport’s governing organizations. That lawsuit alleges the governing bodies coordinated policies that unlawfully restricted player earnings and limited competition within professional tennis.

The newly filed complaint accuses Mir of directing the association’s outside antitrust lawyers without authorization and engaging in settlement discussions with at least one defendant despite no longer serving as the organization’s legal representative. Reuters reported that the PTPA contends those actions have created uncertainty that defendants are now citing in an effort to challenge the association’s standing in the antitrust proceedings.

Mir was not immediately available for comment, Reuters reported. The article also noted that attorneys from Clifford Chance, whom the lawsuit says represent Mir, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The dispute represents the latest chapter in a broader governance conflict within the player advocacy group. Reuters reported that the PTPA previously filed a separate lawsuit in the District of Columbia against members of its executive committee, alleging that a group of insiders, acting under the influence of an outside commercial interest, sought to seize control of the organization. That litigation remains pending, with a hearing scheduled later this month.

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In filings connected to the Washington case, Mir has maintained that he remains the PTPA’s general counsel. Attorneys representing executive committee members, including co-founder Vasek Pospisil, have disputed that assertion, arguing in court that neither Mir nor the lawyers representing the plaintiffs in the D.C. matter currently act on behalf of the association. According to Reuters, those filings reject Mir’s claim to represent the organization.

The internal legal battle unfolds against the backdrop of one of the most closely watched competition cases in professional sports. In March 2025, the PTPA filed lawsuits in the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union accusing the Association of Tennis Professionals, Women’s Tennis Association, International Tennis Federation and the International Tennis Integrity Agency of engaging in anti-competitive conduct that allegedly suppresses player compensation and limits opportunities for competition. The governing bodies have denied wrongdoing and pledged to defend the claims.

The antitrust allegations center on issues of market power and competitive structure in professional tennis. The PTPA contends the organizations collectively control tournament schedules, ranking systems, player participation rules and commercial opportunities in ways that restrict competition and reduce players’ bargaining leverage. Those claims remain contested, and no court has ruled on their merits.

The PTPA was established in 2020 by Novak Djokovic and Pospisil to advocate exclusively for professional players. Although Djokovic later distanced himself from the organization, the association has continued pursuing legal challenges aimed at reshaping the governance and economic structure of professional tennis.

Source: Reuters