Daniil Medvedev recently shared his thoughts on Novak Djokovic’s surprising decision to leave the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA). In 2019, the 24-time singles Grand Slam champion and Vasek Pospisil co-founded the PTPA, an organization that advocates for the interests of players across both the ATP and WTA.
Daniil Medvedev Makes His Feelings Known on Novak Djokovic and PTPA Split
On Jan. 5, 2026, Djokovic announced on social media that he has chosen to “step away completely” from the PTPA due to concerns about “transparency,” “governance,” and his representation within it.
“I have decided to step away completely from the Professional Tennis Players Association. This decision comes after ongoing concerns regarding transparency, governance, and the way my voice and image have been represented,” Djokovic posted on X.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion explained that his “values and approach” no longer align with the current direction of the PTPA, which led to his departure from the organization.
“I am proud of the vision that Vasek and I shared when founding the PTPA, giving players a stronger, independent voice – but it has become clear that my values and approach are no longer aligned with the current direction of the organization. For me, this chapter is now closed,” he added.
During a press conference, Medvedev was asked for his opinion on Djokovic’s decision to leave the PTPA. He said he “saw” the Serb distancing himself from the organization and described it as a “bad look” for the PTPA. Medvedev also clarified that he does not know the specific reasons behind Djokovic’s decision, making it “tough” for him to comment further.
“I saw it, and honestly, on Novak, for sure it’s kind of a bad look on PTPA, because he was a co-founder, so I don’t know the exact decisions behind — or sorry, like, factors behind his decision. So tough for me to say,” Medvedev said.
On the tennis side, Djokovic was initially scheduled to begin his 2026 season at the Adelaide International but has since withdrawn from the tournament.
Meanwhile, Medvedev opened his 2026 season at the Brisbane International. The top seed at the tournament, he kicked off his campaign by defeating Márton Fucsovics with a scoreline of 6-2, 6-3 in the first round.
Who Will Medvedev Face at the 2026 Brisbane International 2R?
Following his victory over Fucsovics in the first round of the 2026 Brisbane International, Medvedev is scheduled to take on Frances Tiafoe in the second round of the tournament.
Tiafoe concluded his 2025 season at the Shanghai Masters, where he lost his opening match to qualifier Yannick Hanfmann. His best result that season came at the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships, where he reached the finals. He also advanced to the quarterfinals of the Citi DC Open before falling to compatriot Ben Shelton.
Like the Russian, Tiafoe began his 2026 season at the Brisbane International, securing a second-round berth by defeating wild card Aleksandar Vukic with a scoreline of 6-2, 6-2 in the first round.
Medvedev and Tiafoe have faced each other six times on the ATP Tour, with the former World No. 1 winning five of those meetings. Their most recent encounter came during the round-robin stage of the 2024 Laver Cup, where Tiafoe earned a win with a scoreline of 3-6, 6-4, (10-5) for Team World.
The winner of the second-round match between Medvedev and Tiafoe at the 2026 Brisbane International will advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face either Reilly Opelka or lucky loser Kamil Majchrzak.
