by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 11 – Some players on the tennis tour sued the ATP - then alleged that the ATP was threatening those who sued, and pressuring others to sign a petition against the lawsuit. The motion was hearing on April 11 before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Margaret M. Garnett. Inner City Press was there, live tweeting. Thread:
ATP lawyer: You're aware that Novak Djokavic said there are parts of the lawsuit he does not agree with?
Vasek Pospisil: I was surprised
ATP lawyer: And world number 3 Carlos Alcaraz said he never saw the lawsuit?
Pospisil: In retrospect I should have reach out to him. But I have spoken with all the named plaintiffs
Redirect PTPA lawyer: You didn't want the players to have to keep acting like scared children, right? Pospisil: I did not.
Next witness, by video from Barcelona, is Reilly Opelka.
PTPA lawyer: Were you threatened? Opelka: That if I stayed on the lawsuit I could lose my pension PTPA lawyer: Did it give you pause? Opelka: Yes. And others heard it. Some have told me they'd join the lawsuit if not for the threats. ATP lawyer: Objection! Judge: What's the basis of his knowledge? Opelka: The players told me.
Cross: ATP lawyer: The person who conveyed a threat was another player, member of the Player Advisory Council? Opelka: Correct. We were in the gym. He was on the bike. ATP lawyer: Not an ATP official? Opelka: Correct.
ATP lawyer: You have not had your ATP membership taken away, have you? Opelka: I have not. ATP lawyer: Nothing further. Judge: Good luck next week.
Now ATP witness Luben Pampoulov ATP lawyer: On March 18 where were you?
Pampoulov: Miami Open. We had a Player Advisory Council meeting. Two members missed it, a third, Sasha, was on Zoom only for part ATP lawyer: DX 7, "Game. Set. Reform." What did you think? Pampoulov: Disbelief & frustration. The complaint was not supported by any overwhelming majority. ATP: And this counterstatement, could it have been posted in Players' Zone?
Pampoulov: Yes. But it wasn't ATP lawyer: Did you show a player the statement? Pampoulov: Yes. But I didn't ask him to sign until after he showered. ATP lawyer: Did a second player sign the statement? Pampoulov: Yes, he did. ATP lawyer: Has the Chair [of the Players Advisory Council] ever sided 5-4 with the Tournament? Pampoulov: No. They were also inaccurate about Indian Wells...
Cross PTPA lawyer: You showed the statement to Sascha Zverev? Pampoulov: Yes, in his private suite PTPA lawyer: How many players have signed the ATP statement? Pampoulov: A handful. PTPA lawyer: How much do you get paid being on the Players Advisory Council? Pampoulov? I can say? $100,000. PTPA lawyer: How much did you make as a player? Pampoulov: $20,000
Judge: I'll rule later.
The case is Pospisil, et al. v. ATP Tour, Inc. et al., 1:25-cv-2207 (Garnett)
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