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Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka said she believes players should organize a boycott of Grand Slam tournaments if they don’t start getting a bigger share of tournament revenue.
Sabalenka, who is the No. 1 ranked women’s player in the world, and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner were among a group of high-ranked players who released a statement about French Open prize money.
“Without us there wouldn’t be a tournament and there wouldn’t be that entertainment. I definitely feel we deserve to be paid more percentages,” Sabalenka said Tuesday at the Italian Open.
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Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts during her women’s singles round of 16 match against Rebecca Sramkova of Slovakia at the Wuhan Open 2025 in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, October 8, 2025. (Wuhan Open Official 2025/VCG via Getty Images)
“I think at some point we’re going to boycott it. I feel like that’s going to be the only way to fight for our rights.”
The players are also seeking better representation, healthcare options and pensions from the four Grand Slam tournaments: Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.
The total prize money for the French Open rose this year by 10% for a total pool of 61.7 million euros ($72.1 million), with the total up 5.3 million euros from last year. While the pool increased, players claim they are seeing less of the tournament revenue than last year.
The players claim their share of Roland Garros revenue has fallen from 15.5% in 2024 to a projected 14.9% in 2026, and in their statement said the underlying figures tell a different story.
The players’ statement said Roland Garros would generate €395 million in revenue by 2025, up 14% year-on-year, but prize money rose by just 5.4%, reducing the players’ share of revenue to 14.3%.
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Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts against Amanda Anisimova of the United States during the women’s finals at the US Open tennis championships in New York on September 6, 2025. (Yuki Iwamura/AP)
“With estimated revenues in excess of €400 million for this year’s tournament, prize money as a percentage of revenue is likely to still be less than 15%, well below the 22% requested by the players to bring the Grand Slams into line with the ATP and WTA Combined 1000 events,” the players said.
The Australian Open this year increased player compensation by 16% and the US Open prize money last year increased by 20%.
Defending French Open champion Coco Gauff cited the WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement as inspiration.
“From the things I’ve seen with other sports, usually to make massive strides and things like this, it takes an association,” Gauff said. “We have to get unionized somehow.”
“We can definitely move more as a collective.”
US TENNIS STAR COCO GAUFF SAYS SHE RECEIVED RACIST MESSAGES FROM GAMBLERS AFTER MADRID OPEN EXIT
Coco Gauff of the United States reacts during the women’s singles fourth round match against Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic at the Mutua Madrid Open on April 27, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Alberto Gardin/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Gauff said she hasn’t heard any discussions about a walkout, but said she could “100%” see one happening if “everyone were to move as one.”
“I think there’s definitely a consensus that this needs to be addressed for all players at all levels, especially the lower-ranked players as well,” Gauff added. “I want to leave the sport better than I found it. If I can say I played my part when I retire, that’s something I can be proud of.”
Jasmine Paolini, the Italian who reached the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon in 2024, said the WTA and ATP Tours are doing more than the Grand Slams to give players benefits, such as maternity leave and pensions.
“There are a lot of things that the Slams don’t do,” Paolini said, “that the WTA and I think the ATP does.”
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Jasmine Paolini of Italy reacts while playing against Hailey Baptiste of the United States during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid on April 25, 2026. (Pablo Garcia/AP Photo)
She also said a boycott is an option.
“If we all agree, and I think we are — the men and women are united right now — it’s something we could do,” Paolini said.
The French Open starts on May 24, and the singles champions will each receive 2.8 million euros, and the runners-up 1.4 million euros. Semi-finalists earn 750,000 euros, and losers in the first round get 87,000 euros.
