Tennis Star Claims ATP Chairman Issued Threats Over Lawsuit Support

NEW YORK, April 12, 2025 — Veteran tennis player Reilly Opelka testified that he received financially threatening messages from a fellow ATP player, allegedly sent on the orders of ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi, after he added his name to a significant lawsuit against the tour.

The lawsuit, filed by the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) in multiple jurisdictions including New York, London, and Brussels, accuses the ATP and WTA of suppressing wages and violating antitrust laws. Opelka’s remarks came during a heated three-hour court session at a federal courtroom in Manhattan on Friday concerning a motion to bar the ATP from discussing the lawsuit with players.

Opelka, who called in from Barcelona where he is scheduled to compete, stated that an unnamed member of the ATP Players Council approached him during the Miami Open on March 18. That player allegedly conveyed Gaudenzi’s warnings that Opelka could risk losing his pension and face substantial legal bills if he did not retract his support for the lawsuit.

“I’m not going to name him because I’m worried about possible retribution from the ATP,” Opelka noted in his testimony.

ATP board member Luben Pampoulov dismissed Opelka’s allegations as untrue, asserting that they were based on hearsay. The ATP participated in the hearing while objecting to Opelka’s claims, with Pampoulov stating that he personally witnessed the Players Council meeting and that Gaudenzi had allowed staff to address the topic without issuing any threats.

During the session, Opelka disclosed that he had engaged in two additional conversations with the unnamed council member about the alleged warning. Pampoulov previously testified that he solicited players at the Miami Open to sign a statement disavowing the lawsuit, claiming that it was halted after the PTPA filed its gag motion. According to him, Ben Shelton was the only player who agreed to sign.

PTPA co-founder Vasek Pospisil, who supported the lawsuit, claimed to have spoken to 150 players, most of whom backed the litigation. However, he noted that many players feared the repercussions of siding against the ATP. Notably, PTPA co-founder Novak Djokovic did not sign the lawsuit and expressed reservations about some aspects of it, which Pospisil found perplexing.

“I was surprised,” Pospisil stated. “I don’t know why he said that… it was not in line with our previous conversations.”

The ATP also emphasized that very few players have publicly supported the lawsuit; ATP attorney Brad Ruskin referred to it as a “sophisticated PR campaign.” The case is still in its early stages, with the defendants not required to respond until May 20. Judge Margaret Garnett has given both parties a week to submit further briefs regarding the motion to gag the ATP.

With discussions ongoing, numerous industry insiders expect that the ATP may allocate between $50 million to $100 million in legal defenses against the allegations. Meanwhile, the PTPA continues to advocate for players’ rights, aiming to reshape the governance and operational dynamics of professional tennis.