Ben Shelton and Alexander Zverev Were Influenced by ATP Official Says Judge

The ATP purportedly attempted to coerce players into signing pre-drafted denials of prior knowledge of the PTPA's lawsuit, the court's findings state. Judge Margaret Garnett ruled Wednesday the ATP's actions could "readily have been regarded as conceivably coercive, deceptive, or otherwise abusive," especially in how they attempted to influence Zverev and Shelton, both high-profile players on the tour.

The judge added that players such as Zverev and Shelton are "vulnerable to economic coercion," since their livelihoods rely significantly on tournaments nearly entirely operated by the ATP. Such reliance, the court stated, highlights the potentially abusive character of ATP's behavior, irrespective of intent.

Although the PTPA had sought a blanket order prohibiting all communication by players and the ATP about the suit, the judge issued a narrower ruling. The order prevents the ATP from retaliating—or threatening retaliation—against any player who is involved or would be involved in the lawsuit. The court would not issue a complete ban against communication by the ATP, while acknowledging the right of the organization to reply to the litigation in a legal manner.

In addition, the ATP was instructed to save all records of communications with players in connection with the lawsuit, but is not mandated to release them yet.

The ATP replied, saying it "acknowledges the court's ruling and will promptly comply with its directions," reiterating its support for players and upholding its position through legal avenues.

Zverev and Shelton, while not formal plaintiffs on the case, are now the focal point of a controversy with significant implications about power imbalances and player rights in professional tennis. With legal proceedings still unfolding and the public eye squarely placed on the ATP's governance methodology, this decision may represent an important watershed moment in the sport's changing labor landscape.