Some now suggest boycotting future tournaments if it is not increased.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka floated the idea Tuesday at a news conference ahead of the Italian Open, the final warm-up for the French Open that is scheduled to begin on May 24.
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“Without us there would be no tournament or entertainment,” Sabalenka told reporters. “I think at some point we will boycott it. I feel like that will be the only way to fight for our rights.”
The best players in the world express their “deep disappointment”
Sabalenka’s boycott suggestion comes days after some of the world’s best players signed a letter expressing “deep disappointment” over the prize money announced for the French Open. The letter was predominantly signed by top 10 players on the WTA (women’s tour) and ATP (men’s tour), including Sabalenka, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff.
“Players’ share of Roland Garros tournament revenue has decreased from 15.5% in 2024 to a projected 14.9% in 2026,” the letter states.
Instead, players are seeking a 22% share of the Grand Slam prize pool which would be more in line with the WTA and ATP tournaments.
“According to those responsible for the tournament, Roland Garros generated 395 million euros ($462.4 million) in revenue in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 14%, but prize money increased only 5.4%, reducing the players’ share of revenue to 14.3%,” the letter states. “With estimated revenue of more than €400 million ($468.4 million) for this year’s tournament, prize money as a percentage of revenue will likely remain below 15%, well below the 22% that players have requested to align the Grand Slams with the ATP and WTA Combined 1000 events.”
Players have made similar efforts before to increase revenue shares at Grand Slams, including before the Australian Open in January. They also ask for better health benefits and pensions. But the boycott suggestion that emerged Tuesday is new.
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“Let’s see how far we can go,” Sabalenka said Tuesday. “It’s going to take the players to boycott. I feel like nowadays, us girls can easily come together and go for this because I feel like some of the things are really unfair to the players. I think at some point it will come to this.”
Aryna Sabalenka proposed a boycott of the Grand Slam that Coco Gauff supports if the players do not advance in obtaining greater income.
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Gauff supports a possible boycott: “It’s not about me”
World No. 4 Gauff heard Sabalenka’s suggestion and supports moving forward if the players can “collectively agree” to a boycott. She says a boycott wouldn’t just be for the players at the top, but for the players up and down the draw who rely on her payments from tournament to tournament to fund their tennis careers.
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“It’s not about me,” Gauff said. “It’s about the future of our sport and the current players who don’t make as much profit as even some of the best players, when it comes to sponsorship and things like that. “We’re making money off the field.
“When you look at 50 to 100, 50 to 200, how much money each Slam makes, it’s a little unfortunate that the top 200 tennis players are living paycheck to paycheck, while in other sports it’s not even a discussion.”
World No. 3 Iga Świątek was less enthusiastic about a boycott, calling it “a little extreme” when she learned of the idea on Tuesday. He advocated new negotiations to achieve the stated objective.
“The most important thing is to have proper communication and discussions with the governing bodies so that we have some space to talk and maybe negotiate,” Świątek said.
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French Open organizer addresses revenue
Organizers of the French Open, Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open did not immediately provide statements in response to Sabalenka’s boycott suggestion. The French Tennis Federation previously provided a statement to The Athletic in response to the letter calling for greater revenue sharing at the French Open.
“In 2026, the Roland-Garros tournament will offer a total prize money of €61.7 million, which represents an increase of 9.53% compared to 2025 and approximately a 45% increase from 2019,” the statement reads. “This reflects a sustained commitment to increasing player compensation over time.
“The French Tennis Federation has decided to focus some of these increases on players who leave the tournament in the first rounds of the main draw and in the qualifying phases, with increases of over 11%, to better support the players who most depend on prize money to finance their season.
The statement states that “all proceeds” are “reinvested in the Roland-Garros tournament, as well as in the development of tennis in France and internationally.”