Australian Open 2026: Madison Keys, Alexander Zverev and Coco Gauff on deamnds for greater Grand Slam prize money and welfare benefits

There are three broad areas of concern that players want to address:

Dialogue between the group of players represented by former WTA president and CEO Larry Scott and the Grand Slam’s leading players began almost a year ago.

In March, players sent a letter to the four Grand Slams requesting a meeting.

Keys, along with Aryna Sabalenka, Jannik Sinner, Alex de Minaur, Casper Ruud and Coco Gauff, met with the four Grand Slam leaders at last year’s French Open to discuss their concerns.

This was followed by individual meetings for each Slam at Wimbledon, with men’s world number three Zverev and women’s semi-finalist Belinda Bencic participating on behalf of the players.

The usefulness of these meetings led to a difference of opinion.

Keys called them “the most productive conversations we’ve ever had.”

“[That] “This leads me to be cautiously optimistic for the future,” America’s world number nine said on Friday.

“But I really think it’s in everyone’s best interest to continue to be really good partners with each other. We all need each other.”

“We all want to try to do what we can to support each other.”

Zverev does not share this confidence. The 27-year-old German attended the meetings as an ATP Tour representative, part of the players’ council, but felt there was too much talk and not enough action.

He attributes this to the fragmented nature of tennis governance and the fact that separate bodies (Grand Slams, ATP Tour, WTA Tour and ITF) have their own interests.

“Sometimes it seems like the governing bodies don’t get along very well,” said Zverev, who finished second at Melbourne Park last year.

“It’s very difficult to get them in a room and talk about what’s good for the future of tennis.

“Maybe that’s a question more for these guys than for the players, because we’re just spectators.”