Aryna Sabalenka calls on tennis players to boycott the Grand Slams because of the prizes
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Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka said she believes the players should plan to boycott the Grand Slam tournaments if they don’t start getting a bigger share of the earnings.
Sabalenka, the women’s world No. 1, and men’s world No. 1 Jannik Sinner were among a group of top-ranked players who issued a statement about the French Open prize money.
“Without us there wouldn’t be a tournament and there wouldn’t be that fun. I feel like we deserve to be paid a higher percentage,” said Sabalenka on Tuesday at the Italian Open.
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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 Oct. 8, 2025. (Wuhan Open Official 2025/VCG via Getty Images)
“I think sometimes we will boycott it. I feel like it’s the only way to fight for our rights.”
Players also want better representation, health and pension options at the four Grand Slam tournaments: the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
Total prize money for the French Open increased this year, with a 10% increase to a total pot of 61.7 million euros ($72.1 million), a total increase of 5.3 million euros from last year. While the pot is increasing, players say they are seeing less tournament money than last year.
The players said their share of Roland Garros revenue had dropped from 15.5% in 2024 to a projected 14.9% in 2026, and in their statement they said the underlying figures tell a different story.
The players’ statement said Roland Garros generated 395 million euros in revenue by 2025, an annual increase of 14%, however prize money increased by only 5.4%, reducing the players’ share to 14.3%.
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Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts against Amanda Anisimova of the United States during the women’s singles final at the US Open tennis tournament in New York on September 6, 2025. (Yuki Iwamura/AP)
“With an estimated 400 million euros in this year’s tournament, the prize money as a percentage of revenue will probably still be less than 15%, which is very challenging for the 22% of players who asked to make the Grand Slams compatible with the ATP and WTA Combined 1000 events,” the players said.
This year’s Australian Open increased player compensation by 16%, while last year’s US Open prize money increased by 20%.
Defending French Open champion Coco Gauff cited the WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement as motivation.
“From what I’ve seen in other sports, usually to make big progress and things like that, it takes a union,” Gauff said. “We have to unite somehow.”
“We can definitely go further as a group.”
AMERICAN TENNIS STAR COCO GAUFF SAYS SHE RECEIVED SCHEDULE MESSAGES FROM GAMBLERS AFTER MADRID LEAVE
Coco Gauff of the United States reacts during her fourth round 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 he hasn’t heard of any talk of them leaving, but said he can “100% see” what happens if “everybody moves like he does.”
“I think there is a consensus that this needs to be looked at for all players at all levels, especially the lower level players,” Gauff added. “I want to leave this game better than I found it. If I can say that I played my part when I retire, that’s something I can be proud of.”
Jasmine Paolini, the Italian who reached the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon in 2024, said the WTA and ATP Tours are doing more than the Grand Slams to offer players benefits, such as maternity leave and retirement plans.
“There are many things that the Slams can do,” said Paolini, “the WTA and I think the ATP is doing.”
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Jasmine Paolini of Italy reacts while playing against Hailey Baptiste of the US during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid on April 25, 2026. (Pablo Garcia/AP Photo)
He also said boycott is an option.
“If we all agree and I think we’re united – men and women are united right now – it’s something we could do,” Paolini said.
The French Open starts on May 24, and the singles champions will receive 2.8 million euros, while the runners-up will receive 1.4 million euros. The winners of the semi-finals receive 750,000 euros and the losers of the first round receive 87,000 euros.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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