Top 20 tennis stars, including Djokovic and Sabalenka, raise concerns over French Open prize money as talk of boycott emerges/Image: AP
The dispute between tennis players and the Grand Slams has escalated ahead of the French Open this month, with world number one Aryna Sabalenka suggesting that players may eventually boycott tournaments if negotiations over prize money and player welfare continue to stall. Speaking during the opening week of the 2026 Italian Open in Rome, Sabalenka addressed the issue immediately after joining a group of 20 high-profile players, including Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner and Iga Świętek, in signing a statement expressing “deep disappointment” about the financial structure surrounding major tournaments. “Without us there would be no tournament and there would be no entertainment,” Sabalenka told Sky Sports. “I feel we deserve to be paid more. “I think we will boycott it at some point. I feel like that will be the only way to fight for our rights.”
Players challenge Grand Slam revenue split
The players’ statement was issued after French Open organizers confirmed a nearly 9.5 percent increase in prize money at Roland Garros, with the total purse rising to €61.7 million ($72.1 million), up €5.3 million ($6.2 million) from last year, with the men’s and women’s singles champions each set to take home €2.8 million ($3.28 million).
The runner-up will receive €1.4 million ($1.64 million), the semi-finalists €750,000 ($878,685), and the first-round losers €87,000 ($101,927), while the men’s and women’s doubles champions will receive €600,000 ($702,786) and the mixed doubles winners €122,000. ($142,899).
Despite these increases, players see their overall share of tournament revenue continuing to decline.The statement issued on Monday said that the players’ share of Roland Garros tournament revenues decreased from 15.5 percent in 2024 to the expected 14.9 percent in 2026, although tournament revenues continued to rise sharply.“According to tournament officials, Roland Garros generated revenues of €395 million in 2025, an increase of 14% year-on-year, but prize money rose by only 5.4%, reducing players’ share of revenues to 14.3%,” the statement read.
FILE – Norwegian fans watch Casper Ruud play against Spain’s Rafael Nadal on Court Philippe Chatrier, known as Center Court, during the French Open final at Roland Garros on June 5, 2022 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
“With revenue estimated at more than €400 million for this year’s tournament, prize money as a percentage of revenue is likely to remain less than 15%, well below the 22% required by players to bring the Grand Slams in line with the combined 1,000 ATP and WTA events.
While Roland Garros appears poised for record revenues, players are getting a diminishing share of the value they help create. The players also argued that the issue extends beyond the prize money itself. “More importantly, the announcement does nothing to address the structural issues that players have consistently and reasonably raised over the past year. There has been no concern for the welfare of players and no progress towards establishing a formal mechanism for consulting players in the Grand Slam decision-making process.” “The four major leagues remain resistant to change. The lack of player consultation and continued lack of investment in player welfare reflect a system that does not adequately represent the interests of those who play an essential role in the success of the sport.”
Welfare, pensions and scheduling concerns
The same group of players actually signed a letter sent to the presidents of the four major tournaments last year, demanding more prize money and a greater role in what they called “decisions that directly affect us.”The telecommunications company that issued the statement said it was issued in the name of the original signatories to the initial letter, and later added that Novak Djokovic had not signed the new statement, according to the AP. The concerns raised broadly fall into three categories: higher prize money-to-revenue ratios, increased contributions to pensions, health care and maternity support, and increased player involvement in scheduling and tournament decisions. The players noted that the ATP and WTA distribute approximately 22 percent of revenue to competitors and contribute about $80 million annually to player welfare and pension programs, while estimates by the Grand Slams generally place their distribution between 12 and 16 percent. The discussion over scheduling has also become part of the broader dispute, with players raising concerns about games ending late at night, expanding tournament formats and increasingly crowded calendars. Sabalenka’s comments came during the Italian Open in Foro Italico, which will be held from May 5 to 17, and will serve as one of the last major tournaments on clay before the start of Roland Garros later this month. Djokovic will compete in Rome after returning from a six-week absence due to a shoulder injury, after missing the Miami Open and Madrid Open tournaments during his recovery period, while defending champion Carlos Alcaraz will miss the tournament due to a wrist injury.
Świentek urges negotiation instead of boycott
Światek, a four-time French Open champion and one of the signatories of the statement, stopped short of supporting the boycott and instead called for direct discussions with tournament organizers before the start of Roland Garros on May 24. “The most important thing is to have proper contacts and discussions with the governing bodies so that we have some space to talk and possibly negotiate,” Šwientek said. “We hope that before Roland Garros there will be an opportunity to hold such meetings and we will see how things go. “But boycotting the tournament is a bit of an extreme position.” French Open organizers did not respond to a request for comment from the AP after releasing the players’ statement, while Djokovic, who has previously called for increased prize money at major tournaments, remains among the leading figures backing the campaign as discussions continue ahead of a second Grand Slam of the season.The full list of players who have added their names to the campaign to change the prize money structure at Roland Garros:Women: Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys, Jasmine Paolini, Emma Navarro, Zheng Qinwen, Paola Badosa and Mira Andreeva.Men: Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur, Casper Ruud, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas.