Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka, currently ranked at the top, advocates for a potential boycott by tennis players if they are not granted a larger portion of tournament earnings from Grand Slam events. Joining her in this sentiment are players like Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, and Jasmine Paolini. Sabalenka, along with fellow top-ranked player Jannik Sinner, expressed disappointment in the prize money distribution at the French Open in a joint statement with other top 10 players on Monday.
Sabalenka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, emphasized the essential role players play in tournaments, stating, “Without us, there wouldn’t be a tournament or the entertainment it provides. We deserve a higher percentage of the earnings.” Sabalenka, who made these remarks on her 28th birthday during the Italian Open in Rome, hinted at the possibility of a future boycott to uphold players’ rights.
Players are not only demanding a fairer share of revenues but also improved representation, health benefits, and pension plans from the four major Grand Slam tournaments: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and U.S. Open. Despite the French Open’s recent announcement of a 10% increase in prize money to a total of 61.7 million euros ($72.1 million US), players argue that they are still receiving a decreasing share of the tournament revenues.
The players claim that their share of revenue from Roland Garros has declined from 15.5% in 2024 to a projected 14.9% in 2026. The defending French Open champion, Coco Gauff, pointed to the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement as a successful example of collective action leading to positive outcomes.
Rybakina, who secured victory at this year’s Australian Open, expressed readiness to support a potential player boycott if the majority of players decide on it. She highlighted the issue of substantial taxes that players face, even with increased prize money. Similarly, Paolini, who reached the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon in 2024, emphasized the unity between male and female players in advocating for a boycott, pointing out the disparity in benefits provided by the Grand Slams compared to the WTA and ATP Tours.
Although some players, like Iga Swiatek, a four-time French Open champion, consider boycotting a tournament as an extreme measure, they stress the importance of open communication and negotiation with governing bodies to address players’ concerns. The players’ statement disclosed that Roland Garros reported a 14% increase in revenue to 395 million euros in 2025, yet the rise in prize money was only 5.4%, resulting in a reduced share of revenue for players.
Despite the players’ call for a more equitable distribution of prize money, the French Open organizers have not responded to the players’ statement. While the Australian Open and U.S. Open have made recent increases in players’ compensation, the players assert that more significant changes are needed to align Grand Slam events with ATP and WTA Combined 1000 events. The French Open is set to commence on May 24, with the singles champions receiving 2.8 million euros each, runners-up 1.4 million euros, semifinalists 750,000 euros, and first-round losers 87,000 euros.
