While admitting their primary concerns still have not been met, the top men’s and women’s tennis players who limited their media access at the French Open will not carry out the same protest at Wimbledon.
World No. 1 players Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner have headlined a group that has been demanding a larger revenue share from Grand Slam tournaments for just short of a year.
“This decision is based on Wimbledon’s commitment to return with specific proposals addressing all three points of the players’ July 2025 submission,” the players said in a statement, per Front Office Sports.
Also among the players’ demands are improved retirement benefits and a better focus on player welfare during the two-week Grand Slams that include the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open.
At the French Open, players limited their availability at the tournament’s opening press conference to 15 minutes. That number represented the 15% average allocation of revenues toward the prize money at the Grand Slams.
Players also declined additional interviews with French Open television partners.
At Wimbledon, which began Monday, players are competing for a record $86 million in prize money that is up 20% from last year, but still shy of the 22% of tournament revenues players are seeking. That number would have equated to $93.5 million in prize money at Wimbledon this year.
Players hope to reach the 22% goal by 2030.
“The underlying matters remain unresolved and players will carefully evaluate the proposals once received,” the players said in their statement. “Players will also be providing Wimbledon with further information they have requested in connection with those proposals during the course of the tournament.”
Top players have said that the goal of higher Grand Slam purses is to help lower-ranked players who are trying to start or sustain their careers.
–Field Level Media
