Djokovic-led PTPA adds Jabeur and five others to first Executive Committee

The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), led by former men's singles world number one and 21-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, has confirmed eight members to its first Executive Committee, which also features women's singles world number two, Ons Jabeur.

Djokovic created the breakaway body from the men's professional organisation Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), with members of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour joining too.

The Serbian co-founded the group with Canadian Vasek Pospisil in August 2020, who will also be on the Committee.

Tunisian Jabeur is one of four women selected, after initial criticisms of the PTPA not including their female counterparts.

She is joined by Spanish world number 13 Paula Badosa, China's Zheng Saisai and Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States, an Olympic mixed doubles gold medallist and nine-time doubles Grand Slam winner.

Mattek-Sands' compatriot John Isner, a long-time supporter of the PTPA, will also have a position at the table along with Poland's Hubert Hurkacz.

Paula Badosa is one of the four women on the Executive Committee ©Getty Images

"There's every indicator out there now that this will be a huge moment for our sport," said Pospisil to Reuters.

"Every player that we have on there is so respected, very well liked, intelligent.

"They'll be huge assets and we're very lucky that they've joined.

"Ultimately, I could see why they [current bodies] would want to keep the status quo.

"It's only fair and right that players have their association just as most other sports do."

Novak Djokovic co-founded the PTPA with Vasek Pospisil ©Getty Images

Djokovic resigned as the President of the ATP Player Council to launch the PTPA and at the end of 2020, announced he would not stand again to be re-elected.

He has been critical of the ATP's protection of players, with some of the PTPA's supporters being staunch opponents to ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi.

But Djokovic has said he would be willing to work with the ATP and was "not calling for boycotts or parallel tours".

Other fellow greats Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have been more closely aligned with the ATP, while Britain's three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray previously said he was not against a players union, but the inclusion of women was important.

He also said that ATP should be given more time to address the concerns of players.

The Executive Committee is expected to be formally announced before the Australian Open begins on January 19.