LONDON — Tennis star Jessica Pegula mentioned the protests by high gamers over prize cash at Roland Garros had been “productive and profitable.”
That appeared to be the case at Wimbledon, as prize cash was elevated by 20%.
However a number of gamers are persevering with to protest this weekend and throughout the first week of the grass-court Grand Slam, which begins on Monday, by limiting media appearances, saying they deserve a much bigger share of the proceeds.
“We’re very grateful that Wimbledon has elevated the prize cash, however once more, that does not actually reply the questions that we have been asking,” Pegula mentioned on Saturday, limiting his time with the media. “I don’t know if you happen to simply haven’t gotten the purpose throughout.”
And the world No. 4 participant is already looking forward to the final main match on the calendar, the US Open.
“We’ll see how we progress…we’ll do that as we speak and subsequent week after which clearly the following match, the US Open,” mentioned the 32-year-old American. “I feel we will type of get a way of the place we actually are within the Slam tournaments and speak to them and see what we will get out of it.”
Wimbledon’s whole prize cash, together with gamers’ every day allowances, will likely be 64.2 million kilos ($85 million), the most important annual improve in financial phrases within the match’s historical past. The rise in 2013 represented a 40% improve over the earlier yr.
The All England Membership singles winners will every obtain £3.6 million, which may even be elevated by 20%.
The protests started on the French Open, the place gamers complained that the full prize cash was solely 14.3% of the clay court docket match’s income.
On Wednesday, the advisory agency representing the gamers introduced in an announcement that the “direct motion protests” would proceed all through the primary week of Wimbledon. Gamers will account for 14.4% of Wimbledon’s anticipated income this yr, which is decrease than the 14.9% share they obtained 10 years in the past, the assertion mentioned.
The All England Membership mentioned: “We’re stunned and remorse this motion.”
Novak Djokovic didn’t participate within the protests.
“To be sincere, I haven’t got any opinion on it. I am not concerned in it. I am simply going to stay impartial on it,” the seven-time Wimbledon champion mentioned on Saturday.
World No. 6 Alex de Minaur, who took half within the protests at Roland Garros however not this one, mentioned in a quote reported by the BBC: “I feel Wimbledon took an enormous step in the proper path and I assumed it was one thing to take a look at. So that is for me to acknowledge their huge step.”
Cameron Norrie, the very best ranked British males’s singles participant at quantity 29, mentioned the rise in prize cash was “large”, pointing to improved services for gamers.
No. 5 Ben Shelton, in the meantime, dismissed an inventory of issues, saying he “helps our gamers all through this course of.” However he added that he had no intention of limiting media day time “as a result of Wimbledon is a particular place”.
“They’ve at all times handled me nicely right here,” Shelton mentioned. “I feel they’ve put within the effort, and I feel it exhibits within the elevated prize cash this yr.”
What does the No. 1 singles participant say? Prime Rank’s Aryna Sabalenka described the 20% improve as a “nice begin”.
“I actually hope that we lastly get to the desk and actually get it accomplished and are available to a conclusion that everybody is pleased with. I hope we by no means must undergo one thing like this once more,” she mentioned. “As soon as once more, we hope that such a boycott won’t occur once more.”
Jannik Sinner has restricted media appearances and deflected questions in regards to the protests.
“I am not on the stage the place I am 100% glad, however issues are getting higher,” the Italian mentioned.
“It isn’t nearly cash,” mentioned Sinner, citing the necessity to enhance participant welfare. Nevertheless, he didn’t reply to questions on Wimbledon’s provide to work on organising a gamers’ council.
“I feel it is higher to not focus on it right here. I do not need to speak about this in the mean time,” he mentioned.
The four-time Grand Slam champion additionally declined to say whether or not he thought the gamers had been nearer to a decision or a boycott.
“I feel we have talked about this sufficient in the mean time. We all know what we wish from the Grand Slams, so we’ll see what occurs after that,” he mentioned. “As soon as once more, I am right here to speak about tennis.”
