Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Alexander Zverev and Jon Bon Jovi walk onto a tennis court — but not for a doubles match.
On the third day of play at the Miami Open, a practice session stole the spotlight, garnering a larger crowd than the nearby matches. Djokovic’s return to the tournament wasn’t solely about tennis; it also came during a legal battle that could transform the sport.
Today was Djokovic’s first public practice since the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), which he co-founded, filed a lawsuit on March 18. The suit targets the ATP and WTA — which govern professional tennis and sanction the Miami Open — along with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).
The lawsuits, which were filed in New York, London and Brussels, “reveal how tennis’ corrupt governing bodies systemically abuse, silence, and exploit players to drive personal profits through monopolistic control,” according to a statement by the PTPA.
“To be quite frank with you, there are things that I agree with in the lawsuit, and then there are also things that I don’t agree with,” Djokovic said in a pre-tournament press conference. “I found that maybe some wording was quite strong in there, but I guess, the legal team knows what they are doing and what kind of terminology they are supposed to use in order to get the right effect.”
If Djokovic felt the burden of his off-court challenges, he certainly didn’t let it show. As he walked onto Court 10 with Zverev, the tournament’s top seed, the legal drama temporarily faded into the background. The two last faced off in the Australian Open semifinals, a match where Djokovic was forced to withdraw due to a hamstring injury. Now, under the Florida sun, they were back on court, this time drawing a larger crowd than many matches.
South Florida tennis fans knew they were in for a treat when they spotted this high-profile matchup on the practice schedule. Hours before Djokovic and Zverev even stepped onto the court, spectators braved 85-degree Florida heat, lining the fences to secure a spot.
Toddlers were perched on their parents’ shoulders for a better view, children clutched oversized tennis balls and hoped for a coveted autograph, and adults waved Serbian flags in unwavering support of Djokovic’s home country.
Murray, a former world No. 1, was on the court and took his new role as Djokovic’s coach, just months after retiring from the sport after his loss in the men’s doubles quarterfinals at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Famed singer and songwriter Bon Jovi, who is also a Florida-based tennis aficionado, sat on the player’s bench alongside his wife, Dorothea Hurley. He was undoubtedly ‘living on a prayer’ with his front-row, shaded seat on-court.
However, what made this practice even more unique was that it was Djokovic’s first time in six years playing at this South Florida tournament. He missed previous years due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and personal scheduling decisions that led him to withdraw last year.
Despite the tension between Djokovic’s organization and the governing bodies involved in the Miami Open, he slid across the hard courts, prolonging rallies as if it were any other day.
“I’ve never been a fan and supporter of division in our sport, but I’ve always fought for better representation and influence, and positioning of the players globally in our sport which I think is still not where I think it should be and where most of the players think it should be,” Djokovic said. “Not just in terms of prize money, but in many other points that have been also stated in that document.”
Djokovic will play Rinky Hijikata of Australia on March 21 in Hard Rock Stadium, while Zverev will face British qualifier Jacob Fearnley on March 22.
Djokovic and Zverev’s first possible matchup is in the final on March 30.