Tennis

Tennis Channel Did Not Mention PTPA Civil Suit Despite Interviewing A Plaintiff In The Case

wendioliveros Sports Editor

Published18 Mar 2025

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The Tennis Channel made an interesting programming decision. Despite the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) filing a civil suit against the ATP, WTA, ITF, and ITIA on March 18, the Tennis Channel did not mention it. There was plenty of opportunity to do so amid hours of live coverage from the Miami Open and in-studio programming with hosts discussing the news of the day. They even went back in time and talked about the Indian Wells finals but did not talk about the current event.

The professional tennis system is unfair, nontransparent, and rigged against the players.

The PTPA and players’ legal challenges will hold the tennis establishment accountable to ensure real, long-lasting improvements are made.

Details: https://t.co/DUXNqPOgLr pic.twitter.com/FzTVbMZneA

— Professional Tennis Players Association (@ptpaplayers) March 18, 2025

Adding to the intrigue is the fact that Sorana Cirstea was at the Tennis Channel desk in Miami with Prakash Armitraj for an interview after her first-round win over Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Cirstea is named as a plaintiff in the PTPA case. Armitraj did not ask her a single question about the case.

Tennis Channel Covers ATP And WTA events outside of Grand Slams

Is it a conflict of interest for the Tennis Channel since it provides live coverage of ATP and WTA events outside of the Grand Slams? If that is the case, the network should acknowledge the civil suit and make a statement explaining its position. Blatantly ignoring it as if it never happened is not what tennis journalists should be doing.

If Novak Djokovic ends up at the TC desk in Miami, will the network not ask him about it? He is a co-founder of the PTPA.

About The Civil Suit

It covers workplace issues that impact the players including working conditions, earnings potential, the schedule, etc. Fans should pay attention because improving player-specific issues can enhance fans’ enjoyment of the game. Specifically, the endless season that tends to cause injuries, fatigue, and burnout causing players to withdraw from events and retire from matches, and the ambiguity surrounding the drug testing/doping enforcement policies.

🎾 PTPA:

“Last year alone, players were forced to compete in 100-degree heat, endure matches that ended at 3 AM, and play with different and injury-inducing tennis balls depending on the week, leading to chronic wrist, elbow, and shoulder injuries.”

Absolutely correct 💯

— Swish 🍒 Tennis (@Zwxsh) March 18, 2025