by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Jan 19 – 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
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.
Judge: I'll rule later.
A week later, in the run-up to ruling, ATP made its post-hearing submission including that "With respect to Jay Clarke, Mr. Pospisil testified that Mr. Clarke withdrew because of pressure from an unnamed sponsor, not ATP." Which sponsor? ATP filing on Patreon here.
On April 23 the ATP defendants wrote in seeking to delay the May 8 initial pre-trial conference until the second half of June - and noted that the plaintiffs / players oppose any delay. Filing on Patreon here.
On November 24 Judge Garnett docketed an "ORDER granting Letter Motion to Stay. The proceedings against Defendant Tennis Australia are STAYED pending the parties' settlement discussions."
On January 16, a request to release Tennis Australia from liability for damages, given its "early valuable cooperation... it is in a unique position to provide Plaintiffs with valuable documents...."
The case is Pospisil, et al. v. ATP Tour, Inc. et al., 1:25-cv-2207 (Garnett)
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