The tennis world is buzzing after a major shake-up. The Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA), co-founded by Novak Djokovic, has filed a lawsuit against the ATP, WTA, ITF, and ITIA in New York, Brussels, and London. The legal action alleges anti-trust violations and unfair treatment of players. Twelve players, including Nick Kyrgios, have been named as plaintiffs, and the PTPA reportedly consulted over 300 players before taking this step. Kyrgios even took to X to tease the presence of top players in the case, writing, “There are top players – don’t worry about that.” But top player, world No. 3, Carlos Alcaraz has distanced himself from the lawsuit. What did he say?

The PTPA’s lawsuit lays out eight major complaints: collusion to limit competition, fixed prize money, suppressed player earnings, mandated ranking points, an unsustainable schedule, player neglect, financial exploitation, and privacy violations. It’s an extensive list, and the lawsuit aims to bring about systemic change in professional tennis. When asked about it, Alcaraz made his stance clear.

“There are things I agree with and there are other things I don’t agree with. The main thing is I don’t support what was done,” he stated at the press conference ahead of the Miami Open. Interestingly, Alcaraz’s name appears in the lawsuit, much to his surprise.

In a 150-plus-page filing, the 21-year-old Spaniard was cited for his comments about the grueling tennis schedule. On page 71, the lawsuit references a remark he made at the Laver Cup last September: “Carlos Alcaraz criticized the Tours’ schedule, saying the Governing Body Defendants ‘are going to k-ll (players) in some way.'”

Back then, Alcaraz had voiced concerns about the calendar and said, “A lot of players (want) to play more — or even more. A lot of players feel like, OK, it is a good calendar. And a lot of players (say) that it’s really tight and a lot of tournaments during the whole year,” he said. “I’m the kind of player who (thinks) there is a lot of tournaments during the year, mandatory tournaments, and probably during the next few years, gonna be even more tournaments, more mandatory tournaments. So, I mean, probably they are going to k-ll us in some way.”

But Alcaraz didn’t expect those words to be used in a legal battle. “Yesterday I saw on social media that they put something I said in a press conference in the documents and I wasn’t aware of it. I honestly don’t support that letter, because I wasn’t aware of it,” he clarified.

For now, his focus is elsewhere. The Miami Open is underway, and the 4-time Grand Slam champion is looking to make his mark. However, Novak Djokovic has landed on the same side of the Spaniard’s draw again!

Carlos Alcaraz – Novak Djoković showdown looms in Miami Open semi-final

The duo last met in the Australian Open quarterfinals, where Djokovic won. They were also on track for a showdown in Indian Wells, but the Serbian’s exit prevented it. Now, in Miami, they are once again on the same side of the draw.

“We’re on the same side of the draw, hopefully we’ll both reach the semi-finals,” Alcaraz said. “As I said before, these are the matches that attract tennis fans because I think every time we play it’s fun to watch.”

The 37-year-old tennis star hasn’t played this tournament since 2019, but he dominated it in the past, winning five of six editions between 2011 and 2016. Alcaraz knows the challenge ahead and said, “Of course, if you want to win the tournament you have to beat the best players, like Djokovic. We’ll try and be in that position.”

The World No.3 will begin his campaign against David Goffin. A win sets up a third-round meeting with either Brandon Nakashima or Roberto Carballes Baena. The fourth round could bring a match against Nick Kyrgios or Grigor Dimitrov, with a possible quarterfinal against Tommy Paul or Casper Ruud.

It’s a tough road, but Alcaraz knows how to win in Miami. Back in 2022, Alcaraz—the “It Guy” of tennis, according to one journalist at Hard Rock Stadium—became the youngest champion in the tournament’s history at just 18 years old. Now, after missing out on a three-peat at Indian Wells, he’s aiming to take the second half of the Sunshine Double. Can he pull it off?