Aryna Sabalenka calls for tennis players to boycott Grand Slams over prize money
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Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka says she believes players should boycott Grand Slam tournaments unless they start receiving a larger share of tournament revenues.
Sabalenka, the world’s No. 1 women’s player, and Jannik Sinner, the world’s No. 1 men’s player, were among a group of top players to make statements about the French Open’s prize money.
“If it weren’t for us, there wouldn’t be the tournament and there wouldn’t be that entertainment. I definitely think we deserve to pay more percentage,” Sabalenka said Tuesday at the Italian Open. he said.
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Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts during her Women’s Singles Round of 32 match against Rebecca Sramkova of Slovakia at the 2025 Wuhan Open in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, on October 8, 2025. (Wuhan Open Official 2025/VCG via Getty Images)
“I think at some point we will boycott. I think that will be the only way to fight for our rights.”
Players also want better representation, healthcare options and retirement benefits at the four Grand Slam tournaments: Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.
The French Open’s total prize money rose 10% this year to €61.7 million ($72.1 million), with the total amount increasing by €5.3 million compared to last year. While the pot is increasing, players claim that tournament revenues are less than last year.
Players claim their share of Roland Garros revenue has fallen from 15.5% in 2024 to a projected 14.9% in 2026, and say in a statement that the underlying figures tell a different story.
In the players’ statement, it was stated that Roland Garros generated 395 million euros in revenue with an annual increase of 14% in 2025, but the prize money increased only by 5.4% and the players’ share of income decreased to 14.3%.
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Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka reacted to American Amanda Anisimova during the women’s final of the US Open tennis championship held in New York on September 6, 2025. (Yuki Iwamura/AP)
“Given that the estimated revenue for this year’s tournament is over €400 million, the prize money percentage of revenue will likely still be below 15%, well below the 22% that players are demanding to bring the Grand Slams into line with ATP and WTA Combined 1000 events,” the players said.
Players’ compensation at the Australian Open this year was increased by 16%, while last year’s US Open prize money was increased by 20%.
Reigning French Open champion Coco Gauff cited the WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement as an inspiration.
“From what I’ve seen in other sports, it usually takes a unity to make a big breakthrough and things like that,” Gauff said. “We need to be unionized somehow.”
“We can definitely act more collectively.”
AMERICAN TENNIS STAR COCO GAUFF SAYS HE RECEIVED RACIST MESSAGES FROM GAMBLERS AFTER MADRID’S OPEN OUT
Coco Gauff of the United States reacts during the fourth round women’s singles match against Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic at the Mutua Madrid Open on April 27, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Alberto Gardin/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Gauff said she hasn’t heard any discussion of a strike but could “100%” see it happening if “everyone acts as one.”
“I definitely think there is consensus that this needs to be addressed for all players at every level, especially lower-ranked players,” Gauff added. “I want to leave the sport better than I found it. If I can say I did my part when I retire, that’s something I can be proud of.”
Italian Jasmine Paolini, who reached the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon in 2024, said the WTA and ATP Tours were doing more than the Grand Slams to provide players with benefits such as maternity leave and retirement plans.
“There are a lot of things the Slams don’t do,” Paolini said, “and the WTA and I think the ATP does.”
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Jasmine Paolini of Italy reacts while playing against Hailey Baptiste of the United States during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid on April 25, 2026. (Pablo Garcia/AP Photo)
He said boycott was also an option.
“If we are all on the same page, and I think we are, if men and women are united right now, this is something we can do,” Paolini said.
The French Open will start on May 24 and the singles champions will be given 2.8 million euros and the runners-up will be given 1.4 million euros. Semi-finalists will receive 750,000 euros, while first-round losers will receive 87,000 euros.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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