World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has suggested that tennis players may be forced to boycott Grand Slam tournaments to secure a fairer share of revenue. Speaking at the Italian Open, Sabalenka argued that without the players, there is no tournament, and they deserve a higher percentage of the growing revenues.
Sabalenka and men's world No. 1 Jannik Sinner led a group of top players who released a statement criticizing the French Open's prize money structure. The players claim that while the tournament's revenues exceeded 400 million euros, prize money as a percentage of revenue has fallen to under 15%, far below the 22% they are seeking to match ATP and WTA 1000 events.
Defending French Open champion Coco Gauff cited the WNBA's new collective bargaining agreement as inspiration, calling for players to consider unionizing. Jasmine Paolini, a 2024 Grand Slam finalist, noted that the WTA and ATP provide better benefits like maternity leave and retirement plans than the Slams do.
Sabalenka warned that a boycott is the only way to fight for their rights, saying, "I think at some point we will boycott it." The French Open begins May 24, with singles champions earning 2.8 million euros.