Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka were among the players involved (Image: GETTY)
Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka and several other top players have reportedly turned down an offer to have a greater say in the running of Grand Slam tournaments. The prize money up for grabs at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, French Open and US Open has been a major talking point in recent months. Many players believe it is not enough, considering the huge revenue generated by those tournaments.
The saga has been rumbling on since last year’s French Open when a delegation of top players, which included Alcaraz and Sabalenka, urged executives from all four tournaments to increase their prize funds to 22 per cent of revenue by 2030. Those discussions failed to provide a resolution, though, and a number of players are still unhappy with the financial incentives at Grand Slam events.
The world’s top male and female players have now rejected the chance to set up a player council after it was offered by tournament bosses, according to The Guardian.
The report states that such a move would have given players more control over the way Grand Slam tournaments are orchestrated.
In correspondence sent to Wimbledon, the French Open and the US Open last week, players turned down the offer of a meeting with representatives of the three Grand Slams at Indian Wells next month.
The letter stated: “Before committing to another meeting, it would be more productive for the Grand Slams to provide substantive responses, individually or collectively, to the specific proposals the players have put forward regarding prize money at a fair share of grand slam revenues, and player health, welfare, and benefits contributions.
“While the players recognise that governance structures can play an important role, they are concerned that prioritising council formation over the core economic issues risks becoming a process discussion that delays rather than advances meaningful progress.”
The report adds that a number of female players are becoming increasingly disillusioned with tennis governance following events at the Australian Open.
Many players are said to be increasingly frustrated after the Australian Open (Image: Getty)
There is said to be ‘widespread frustration’ over the number of TV cameras in warm-up and cool-down areas without players being consulted.
Coco Gauff was left particularly unhappy after she was caught smashing her racket following her defeat to Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals.
Afterwards, she said: “Certain moments, I feel like they don’t need to be broadcast. I broke one racket [at the] French Open, I think, and I said I would never do it again on court because I don’t feel like that’s a good representation. Maybe some conversations can be had.”
Meanwhile, it’s been reported that many female players are opposed to the potential introduction of best-of-five-set matches at next year’s Australian Open.
Last week, tournament director Craig Tiley said: “One of the things I’ve been saying now is that I think there should be three out of five sets for women. We should look at the last few matches, the quarters and the semis and the finals, and make the women’s side three out of five.
“It’s something we should put on the agenda and start talking to the players about because there’s some matches in those last rounds which would have been fascinating had they been three out of five sets.
“Now I don’t know whether the players would want to do it or not, but it is something we need to consider on the women’s side. Certainly if we’re going to do it and we think it’s the right thing, we’ll definitely go in 2027.
“There’s nothing in the rules stopping that from happening, but we need to do it with really deep consultation with the players. There are going to be people who say this is ridiculous and others who say it is a good idea. The idea is to have a discussion.”
Stay up-to-date with the latest Tennis news Join us on WhatsApp
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy