Main champions together with Aryna Sabalenka, Jannik Sinner and Coco Gauff have lately made headlines after publicly expressing their “deep disappointment” with the prize cash and income sharing on the upcoming French Open. Since releasing a joint assertion in early Might that was additionally signed by different high 10 gamers, the trio have all talked about the opportunity of boycotting future Grand Slam tournaments.
“It is about respect, proper? As a result of I feel we’re giving much more than we’re getting,” No. 1 Sinner instructed reporters on the Italian Open. “It isn’t only for the highest gamers, it is for all of us gamers. In fact we discuss cash, however an important factor is respect. We simply do not feel it.”
Whereas labor disputes in sports activities should not new, this state of affairs differs from that sometimes seen in workforce sports activities, the place gamers are direct workers of varied leagues and are sometimes unionized. Skilled tennis gamers are unbiased contractors and don’t take part in collective bargaining conversations. For sure, each competitors has its personal management and construction, and differs in prize cash and income distribution. Moreover, ATP and WTA function individually.
So what precisely is occurring right here? And the way possible are gamers to boycott within the close to future? This is what we all know up to now in regards to the French Open, which begins this weekend in Paris.
What precisely are gamers dissatisfied with and what are they in search of?
Gamers’ complaints primarily heart across the prize cash for the 4 main tournaments (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open) and the proportion of their complete revenue that they obtain. Prize cash for the 2026 French Open elevated 9.5% from final 12 months to a complete of $72.3 million, however gamers say this represents a small proportion of their anticipated complete income (14.9% in comparison with 15.5%) and is properly beneath the 22% threshold that ATP and WTA 1000-level tournaments mixed can demand and obtain.
Sabalenka, the highest girl within the rankings, responded to a query at a press convention by saying it was a query of equity.
“Definitely, while you take a look at the numbers (complete income) and the sum of money the gamers (are receiving), you are feeling like the sport is on us,” Sabalenka mentioned. “I do not assume there can be any tournaments or leisure if it weren’t for us. I positively really feel like we must always obtain the next proportion of compensation.”
The identical group of gamers despatched two letters to the 2025 main match calling for better income sharing, extra say in decision-making and different reforms, together with addressing long-term well being and pensions. They are saying no significant change has occurred but.
“Whereas different main worldwide sports activities are modernizing governance, aligning stakeholders and constructing long-term worth, the Grand Slams proceed to withstand change,” a latest assertion from the gamers mentioned. “The dearth of session with athletes and the continued lack of funding in participant welfare displays a system that doesn’t adequately signify the pursuits of these on the coronary heart of the game’s success.”
Gamers within the NBA, NFL and MLB will obtain about 50% of their respective leagues’ income underneath the newest collective bargaining settlement. The groundbreaking and hard-fought CBA negotiations accomplished this spring resulted in WNBA gamers receiving 20% of league income. (The 2025 season was the primary time the league generated sufficient income to start income sharing.)
Sinner mentioned tennis gamers “do not even have the braveness” to ask for 50%, however argued that “in the meanwhile it is too little.”
The singles champion at this 12 months’s French Open might be paid about $3.25 million, whereas the gamers who’re eradicated within the first spherical might be paid about $101,000. Whereas the quantity is critical, it might probably additionally signify a good portion of the annual revenue of lower-level gamers, who typically play in smaller tournaments all year long. These salaries may be important to staying on tour, as they must pay not solely the salaries of varied workforce members, but in addition their very own journey bills.
Gauff acknowledges her privilege and talent to earn extra revenue by way of sponsorships and different off-court actions, and spoke in regards to the disparities within the sport and the way she believes Slam competitions might help shut them.
“For those who take a look at (gamers) from fiftieth to a hundredth, fiftieth to 2 hundredth, how a lot cash they make per match, it is unlucky in some ways in which (many) of the 200 greatest tennis gamers live paycheck to paycheck,” she mentioned.
Moreover Sabalenka, Sinner and Gauff, who signed this assertion and the earlier letter?
The primary correspondence for 2025 additionally signed WTA gamers Mira Andreeva, Paula Badosa, Madison Keys, Emma Navarro, Jasmine Paolini, Jessica Pegula, Iga Swiatek, Zhen Qingwen, and ATP gamers Carlos Alcaraz, Alex de Minaur, Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz, Daniil Medvedev, Andrei Rublev and Casper. Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev. The entire above besides Djokovic signed the newest assertion.
Djokovic didn’t specify why he didn’t signal, however instructed reporters in Rome that his emotions had not modified, though he was “on the sidelines extra” in the meanwhile.
“I am not concerned in these conferences or conversations,” Djokovic mentioned. “However my place may be very clear. I help the gamers and can all the time help a stronger place for the gamers within the ecosystem.”
Has the French Open reacted?
sure. In a way. The French Tennis Federation, which runs the French Open, issued a press release defending the prize cash at the moment on provide.
“The whole prize cash for the 2026 Roland Garros match might be €61.7 million, a rise of 9.53% in comparison with 2025 and roughly 45% in comparison with 2019. This displays the continued dedication to rising participant remuneration over the long run,” the group mentioned.
“The French Tennis Federation has chosen to focus a few of these will increase on gamers who left the match within the early rounds of the principle and qualifying levels, leading to a rise of over 11%, as a way to higher help these gamers who’re most depending on prize cash to fund their season.”
FFT additional defined that it’s a non-profit group, stating that “all proceeds from the match might be reinvested into the Roland Garros match and the event of tennis in France and internationally.”
So the place does the thought of boycott come from?
Chatting with reporters at the beginning of the Italian Open, Sabalenka mentioned she predicted a boycott and thought it was the one manner gamers might be efficient.
“I feel I’ll boycott it sooner or later,” she mentioned. “We really feel like that would be the solely approach to struggle for our rights.”
Gauff, the defending French Open champion, mentioned she believed it was potential. “If all of us come collectively and work collectively, yeah, I see that 100%,” she mentioned. However Gauff mentioned she hasn’t truly heard something about it. She added that she was impressed by the WNBA’s latest progress and emphasised the necessity to work collectively. Earlier than reaching an settlement with the league, WNBA gamers had ready to go on strike if obligatory.
“We want some type of unionization,” Gauff mentioned. “We will do extra as a collective.”
Mr. Sinner didn’t know whether or not a boycott would happen, however didn’t rule out the chance.
“It is arduous to say,” he mentioned. “I can not predict the longer term in a way, however I additionally imagine that now we have to start out someplace.”
Paolini and 2026 Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina each spoke to reporters in Rome and expressed help for a potential boycott.
“If all of us agree, and we predict we do – women and men are united now – that is one thing we are able to do,” Paolini mentioned.
What would a boycott appear like?
It’s unattainable to say at this stage because the gamers haven’t revealed particular particulars. Would all gamers receiving direct entry into the principle occasion select to take part in such a protest? Solely the highest 10 or high 20 women and men? Unclear.
However even when the highest 20 gamers in each singles attracts all decline to compete within the main match, the match will possible be capable to discover 20 gamers ranked exterior the traditional minimize line to fill the holes. The match will in all probability proceed, however the champion will virtually definitely be a lesser-known title and his accomplishments might be marked with an asterisk.
Nonetheless, boycotting main tournaments will not be unprecedented. In 1973, 81 male gamers, together with the earlier three champions Stan Smith, John Newcombe and Rod Laver, skipped Wimbledon to help Nikola Pilic, who had been banned by the Worldwide Tennis Federation. Regardless of dropping lots of its largest stars and 12 of the highest 16 seeds, an entire area nonetheless remained. 29 qualifiers and 50 fortunate losers participated within the draw. In the long run, Yan Codes received the title. That is his first and solely title on the All England Membership.
It was a turning level for the game.
“The sport has modified endlessly as a result of nobody has forgotten what occurred that 12 months,” Cliff Drysdale, then-new ATP president and the gamers’ primary organizer, instructed the New York Occasions in 2023. “And everyone knows that relying on how the gamers are handled, it might occur once more.”
“Everybody is aware of that the gamers have withdrawn as soon as from some of the necessary tournaments on this planet, and nobody can make certain that they will not do it once more.”
How possible is a boycott?
With the match beginning on Sunday and nearly all of gamers already arriving on the venue, a boycott in Paris this week appears extremely unlikely. Swiatek, a four-time Roland Garros champion, even referred to as that chance “a little bit excessive.”
However the subsequent match on the calendar, Wimbledon’s primary match, begins on June 29, and the match has but to announce this 12 months’s prize cash. And as confirmed above, it has occurred earlier than on the All England Membership.
However few have laid out concrete plans for an precise boycott. For sure, athletes’ pursuits and priorities within the Slam match draw typically range broadly.
“I really feel just like the Dodgers and Giants hate one another, however they’re utterly on the identical web page relating to the (Main League Gamers Affiliation) factor,” former No. 11 participant Sam Querrey lately instructed ESPN. “They’ll put apart their variations. Tennis gamers, so far as speaking about it, don’t have anything in frequent between Sabalenka and the Ninetieth-ranked girl. It is one factor for Sabalenka to boycott, however for one more girl to boycott a significant match that she labored so arduous to compete in and actually count on her to overlook out on maybe the largest wage of the 12 months?”
Querrey believes a boycott will not work “except all of the gamers from No. 1 to No. 200 are on the identical web page,” including that the possibility of a boycott truly taking place is “lower than 5%.” However he mentioned if all of these gamers have been by some means out of sync, adjustments can be compelled instantly.
Fellow former participant Chris Eubanks, who retired on the finish of the 2025 season, additionally believed it will be efficient, however did not assume it will occur anytime quickly.
“I do not assume you are going to see all the highest and largest names on this sport coming collectively simply because it is a aggressive venue,” Eubanks instructed ESPN. “For those who have been[three-time major finalist]Alexander Zverev and also you heard that Carlos and Jannik have been boycotting, would you not take part or would you assume, ‘Wow, this is perhaps my probability?'” Would the highest 20 gamers on this planet see the highest 10 all eradicated and say, “This is perhaps an enormous second for me?”
“It is a world of the fittest and I do not know if anybody would put apart their private objectives and goals and profession aspirations to overlook out on a Grand Slam. However I might be fallacious right here.”
Though no boycott seems to be occurring at Roland Garros, L’Equipe newspaper reported on Wednesday that many gamers plan to restrict their pre-tournament media appearances to lift consciousness of their trigger. In a press release to The Related Press, FFT criticized the choice, saying it “punishes all stakeholders concerned within the match, together with the media, broadcasters, federation employees, and the whole tennis group that intently follows every version of Roland Garros.”
FFT added that it had proposed a gathering with gamers and their representatives on Friday.
Are there efficient alternate options to boycotting?
Simply speaking in regards to the boycott sparks a dialog and retains gamers thinking about their issues.
Even with out a formal boycott, the difficulty will stay high of thoughts if high gamers proceed to unite and reiterate their place at each alternative.
Pegula, a member of the WTA Gamers Council, mentioned he’s attempting to arrange gamers to win greater prize cash. Talking on the Italian Open press convention, Pegula mentioned the game’s massive variety of organizations – the WTA, ATP, ITF and the Grand Slams – was a problem, however he was optimistic that the help of high gamers might make a distinction.
“That is what makes it so troublesome is that our sport is so fragmented. It is arduous to get everybody on the identical web page,” Pegula mentioned. “That is why it was such an enormous deal to have the highest 10 women and men truly come collectively. I hope it will get Slams’ consideration.”
