John McEnroe backs Novak Djokovic after Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer refuse to support him: 'They are too divided'

John McEnroe has come out in support of Novak Djokovic after tennis legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal refused to back the Serbian star over the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA). McEnroe believes the situation shows how divided the tennis world still is and why Djokovic’s idea was needed in the first place.

Djokovic co-founded the PTPA with Vasek Pospisil in 2021 with the aim of fighting for the rights of lower-ranked players. The organisation wanted to give players a stronger and more independent voice, separate from existing bodies like the ATP and WTA. Last year, the PTPA even took legal action against the ATP and WTA, accusing them of anti-competitive behaviour and ignoring player welfare.

However, Djokovic recently announced that he has stepped away completely from the PTPA. This decision surprised many, including McEnroe, who admitted he did not see it coming. “Tennis is too fragmented. Even PTPA was fragmented from the start, because there is already ATP. It’s a problem about 45 years old,” McEnroe said.

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“Even when I was 20 years old, we were trying to improve the position of the players, to secure better deals with the Grand Slam tournaments and to be equal participants, even partners. However, in my opinion, the players have never been treated fairly, which is why the ATP was founded in the first place,” he added.

The American also questioned how the PTPA functioned, saying it was unclear whether players could be part of both the ATP and the PTPA at the same time. He said this showed the lack of unity in the sport. McEnroe also suggested that Federer and Nadal may have been caught off guard by the whole situation.

“It came practically out of nowhere. I’m not even sure if it’s a union or an association - and the difference between the two terms is huge and leads to a whole other political debate about the actual impact. I don’t know exactly which players are involved, or whether it is possible to be a member of ATP and PTPA at the same time. All this additionally shows that the players are not at the table in the way they should be, because they are too divided,” McEnroe said.

“This is another example of how the whole situation seems to have caught Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer off guard. I don’t know what will happen next. I remember talking to Novak about all this before, as well as to the PTPA president at the time, but I haven’t heard anything since then. That was a few years ago,” he said.

Why did Federer and Nadal oppose PTPA?

Federer and Nadal were among the strongest voices against the PTPA when it was formed. Nadal had said that creating a new organisation did not necessarily help tennis more than working within the existing structure. Federer supported Nadal’s view by posting on social media, saying it was important for players to stay united and work together to move the sport forward.

“Just because they created this organisation doesn’t mean they help tennis more than other players who believe in the usual structure. If we have experienced positive situations, it is thanks to the involvement of Roger, myself, but also Novak and Andy [Murray], because we have always been concerned with asking others what they need,” Nadal had said.

“If we compare the earnings of five, six, seven or eight years ago to today, it is clear that we have significantly reduced the gap between the lowest ranked and the best players. We know that we have to continue working on this, but we do not consider that another organisation is necessary,” Nadal concluded.

Explaining his decision to leave the PTPA, Djokovic said he had concerns about transparency, governance, and how his image and voice were being used. While he said he was proud of the original vision behind the PTPA, he felt the organisation no longer matched his values.

“After careful consideration, I have decided to step away completely from the Professional Tennis Players Association. This decision comes after ongoing concerns regarding transparency, governance, and the way my voice and image have been represented. I am proud of the vision that Vasek and I shared when founding the PTPA, giving players a stronger, independent voice - but it has become clear that my values and approach are no longer aligned with the current direction of the organisation,” Djokovic had said.