Tennis antitrust lawsuit explained: Why ATP, WTA and Grand Slam dismissal attempts failed

A federal judge in New York denied motions from the ATP Tour, WTA Tour, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open to dismiss an antitrust lawsuit brought by the Professional Tennis Players Association and 15 players. Judge Garnett ruled the plaintiffs' allegations of anti-competitive practices were plausible enough to proceed past the preliminary dismissal stage. The governing bodies must now choose between negotiating potential settlements or entering the legal discovery phase ahead of an October 29, 2026 conference.

The class action lawsuit accuses tennis authorities of colluding to suppress player compensation, restrict free movement, and impose an punishing 11-month calendar. The legal fight continues despite the departure of PTPA co-founder Novak Djokovic in late 2025 and an undisclosed settlement previously reached between the players' association and Tennis Australia.