Top-ranked women’s tennis player Aryna Sabalenka has suggested a potential boycott of grand slam tournaments if players do not begin to receive a larger share of the revenue.
Her comments follow a statement of “deep disappointment” from leading players, including fellow world No 1 Jannik Sinner, regarding French Open prize money.
Speaking at the Italian Open on her 28th birthday, Sabalenka asserted: “Without us there wouldn’t be a tournament and there wouldn’t be that entertainment. I feel like definitely we deserve to be paid more percentage.”
She added, “I think at some point we will boycott it. I feel like that’s going to be the only way to fight for our rights.”
Players are also advocating for improved representation, health provisions, and pensions across all four grand slam events: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.
While French Open organisers announced a 10 per cent increase in overall prize money last month, bringing the total to 61.7 million euros (£53.3 million), the players’ statement argued that “the underlying figures tell a very different story.”
They claim 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.
Four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek offered a more cautious perspective, stating that “the most important thing is to have proper communication and discussions with the governing bodies so we have some space to talk and maybe negotiate.”
She added that while she hoped for meetings before Roland Garros, “boycotting the tournament, it’s a bit extreme kind of situation.”
French Open organisers have not yet responded to requests for comment following the players’ statement.
The main draw of the French Open is due to begin on 24 May, with the tournament concluding on 7 June.
