Tennis star suggests taking drastic action amid ‘deep disappointment’ over grand slam prize money

5 May 2026 • 10:06 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Tennis star suggests taking drastic action amid ‘deep disappointment’ over grand slam prize money

  • Top-ranked women’s tennis player Aryna Sabalenka has suggested a potential boycott of grand slam tournaments if players do not receive a larger share of the revenue, stating that "without us there wouldn’t be a tournament".
  • Her comments follow a statement of "deep disappointment" from leading players, including Jannik Sinner, regarding French Open prize money, despite organisers announcing a 10 per cent increase in overall prize money to 61.7 million euros (£53.3 million).
  • Players argue that the underlying figures show their share of tournament revenues is set to decrease, with Roland Garros’s player revenue share projected to fall from 15.5 per cent in 2024 to 14.9 per cent by 2026.
  • Beyond prize money, players are also advocating for improved representation, health provisions, and pensions across all four grand slam events.
  • Four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek offered a more cautious perspective, suggesting that "the most important thing is to have proper communication and discussions with the governing bodies" rather than boycotting, which she considers "a bit extreme".

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