Former tennis players Kim Clijsters, Sania Mirza, and Marcos Baghdatis have started major roles in the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), led by Novak Djokovic.

The PTPA was set up by 23-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic and 2014 Wimbledon doubles champion Vasek Pospisil four years ago in 2019. Its aims are to promote the interests of tennis players and to address any oversights or gaps left by the ATP, WTA, and ITF. 

On its website, the PTPA states that it is "committed to safeguarding and supporting men's and women's professional tennis players worldwide."

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PTPA welcomes new members

Some of the top-ranked active players are already members of the PTPA, including world No. 5 Ons Jabeur, No. 17 Hubert Hurkacz and former world No. 2 Paula Badosa.

All three are founding members of the executive committee, formed in January 2023, along with Djokovic, Pospisil, John Isner, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, and Saisai Zheng.

Now, former world No. 1 Clijsters will join the PTPA as a 'Board of Champions'. The Belgian won three singles and two doubles Grand Slam titles in her career. Mirza, who has six major titles across singles and doubles, will join her in this role.

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Meanwhile, Baghdatis will take up the role of ambassador for the PTPA. The Cypriot made the final of the Australian Open in 2006, where he was defeated by Roger Federer, and was ranked as high as No. 8 in the ATP singles rankings during his career.

The PTPA announced the news on social media, writing:

"The PTPA is thrilled to welcome the legendary Kim Clijsters, Sania Mirza and Marcos Baghdatis to its team!@clijsterskim and @mirzasaniar join the PTPA as its first Board of Champions members, while @baghdatis_official joins the PTPA as an ambassador."