Novak Djokovic has joined the conversation on the ongoing prize money debate, advocating for a more equitable distribution of revenue among tennis players. His comments came in response to Nick Kyrgios’ recent criticism of the vast pay gaps in the sport, which the Australian described as “a joke.”
Kyrgios, who partnered with Djokovic in doubles at the Brisbane International, highlighted how lower-ranked players struggle with the financial burdens of travel, coaching, and competition costs. His concerns drew support from Djokovic, who acknowledged the disparity and stressed the need for change.
“I’m just going to state a fact, it’s not my opinion,” Djokovic said after his round two victory in Brisbane. “The pie split between the governing bodies in major sports, all major American sports, is around 50 per cent, maybe more. Ours is way lower than that.”
Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion and founder of the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), emphasized that tennis’ global nature complicates revenue distribution due to varying regulations, taxes, and legal frameworks across countries. However, he maintained that the sport’s current structure does not adequately represent players’ interests.
“It’s one of the reasons why the PTPA was formed – to represent better players’ rights and voices,” Djokovic stated. He noted that decision-making power within the ATP is shared equally between players and tournaments, yet conflicts of interest often arise.
“As players, we only hold 50 per cent of the organization,” Djokovic explained. “Many times, what the players’ council decides doesn’t translate into action because of differing priorities between players and tournaments. We are part of the same system, but we are often in conflict when it comes to prize money.”
Djokovic also shed light on the limitations of player influence on significant decisions. “Players don’t have enough say on key issues. This is a systemic issue that needs addressing for the sport to move forward,” he said.
The Serbian champion’s remarks reinforce Kyrgios’ stance, adding weight to the call for systemic reform in tennis. Both players advocate for a revenue model more aligned with those of major American sports leagues, where athletes receive a larger share of earnings.
While acknowledging the complexities of global tennis, Djokovic remains committed to advancing the conversation and pushing for changes that would benefit players across all rankings.
Nick Kyrgios in 2025
Ranked no., Nick played his last match on the 31st of December 2024 when he surrendered to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 7-6(2) 6-7(4) 7-6(3) in the 1st round in Brisbane (draw).
At present, during this year Kyrgios owns a compiled 0-1 record.
Djokovic in Brisbane, ranking, and results in 2025
Now the world no.7, Novak has achieved a composed 2-0 match record in 2025. The Serbian is now playing in Brisbane where he bested Rinky Hijikata 6-3 6-3 and Gael Monfils 6-3 6-3.
Novak Djokovic will play Reilly Opelka in the quarter on Friday at 8:00 pm on PAT RAFTER ARENA. They have never played each other until now in top tournaments.
Djokovic won 99 titles in his career: 52 on hard courts, 20 on clay courts, 19 on indoor courts and 8 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic played each other 3 times. Their actual record is 2-1 for Kyrgios. Previously, the last time they fought against each other, Novak Djokovic won 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6(3) in the final in London (Wimbledon) in July 2022.
Here the video highlights.
Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic |
| Embed from Getty Images |
