Novak Djokovic says if he thinks he should be getting paid more money from playing tennis

Novak Djokovic shared his thoughts on why he thinks tennis players should be paid more money.

Shockwaves were sent through the sport following a bombshell announcement this past week.

The 37-year-old co-founded the Professional Tennis Players Association [PTPA], who filed a lawsuit against the sport’s governing bodies.

The timing of the lawsuit was an interesting one, given the Indian Wells Masters had just concluded and the Miami Open had just commenced.

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Novak Djokovic explains why tennis players should be paid more

Following the lawsuit filed by the PTPA, a press release highlighted seven areas they believe have been ignored by the top people in tennis.

One of these topics focuses on player earnings, as the PTPA believes prize money has been fixed and the amount of money players can earn across the sport has been suppressed.

Commenting further on the lawsuit, Novak Djokovic told reporters at the Miami Open that while he is satisfied with his own earnings, he wants lower ranked players to receive a higher income.

“When it comes to viable living, as many players as possible. I don’t think there should be any limit or number to that. Currently there is not enough players living from this sport,” he said.

“On the highest level we are earning good money and, of course, I cannot complain at all for myself. Far from that.

”The men and women professional tennis players who are fighting to basically continue playing the sport. I know personally a very big number of players who have left tennis, particularly during covid time because of a lack of funds.

“So I don’t know exactly nowadays what is the number of players that are able to make a living from this sport. But I think it is probably singles, doubles, men and women combined, about 400 if so, which is not enough for a very global sport that we have.”

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Novak Djokovic urges top players to speak up about issues in the sport

Djokovic has used his voice and platform over the years to stand up for causes or a point of view that he believes in.

In 2019, he founded the PTPA alongside Vasek Pospisil to help with this, and this lawsuit announcement is their biggest move yet.

Now Djokovic is urging other players with the platform and voice, especially from the younger generation of players, to speak up about issues that are important to them and the sport.

“I think I am towards the end of my career and a lot of people have always been relying on me to say something about this matter, as I am doing right now,” the Olympic champion added.

“I don’t mind talking about it but I would like to see the current leaders of the respective tours and the future generations that are going to lead this sport for the next decade to take a lead. They have got to understand that these topics and discussions are important to them.

“Not just for them but also for the other players they are representing, because even if you are not in the council or part of the PTPA or whatever, if you are not part of any body that represents players, you are still as a top player

“You are regarded, celebrated, by so many hundreds or thousands of professional tennis players around the world and I personally feel that there is a responsibility and accountability that comes with that, you have to carry that weight with you and you have to always remember that you were in their shoes.

“We all know how hard it is at futures level and first and second year of professional tennis and trying to break through, it is not easy. It boils down to a very limited amount of players who are able to really live from the sport and the sport is a very global sport, it has a very rich history.”