{"id":625444,"date":"2026-05-05T20:03:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T20:03:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/625444\/"},"modified":"2026-05-05T20:03:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T20:03:15","slug":"aryna-sabalenka-calls-for-tennis-players-to-boycott-grand-slams-over-prize-money","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/625444\/","title":{"rendered":"Aryna Sabalenka calls for tennis players to boycott Grand Slams over prize money"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Tennis<\/a> star Aryna Sabalenka said she believes that players should organize a boycott of Grand Slam tournaments if they don\u2019t start getting a bigger share of tournament revenues.<\/p>\n

Sabalenka, who is the No. 1 ranked women\u2019s player in the world, and men\u2019s world No. 1 Jannik Sinner were among a group of highly ranked players who released a statement about the French Open’s<\/a> prize money.<\/p>\n

“Without us there wouldn\u2019t be a tournament and there wouldn\u2019t be that entertainment. I feel like definitely we deserve to be paid more percentage,” Sabalenka said on Tuesday at the Italian Open.<\/p>\n

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\"Aryna <\/p>\n

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts during her Women’s Singles Round of 32 match against Rebecca Sramkova of Slovakia at the 2025 Wuhan Open in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, on Oct. 8, 2025. (Wuhan Open Official 2025\/VCG via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

“I think at some point we will boycott it. I feel like that\u2019s going to be the only way to fight for our rights.”<\/p>\n

The players are also seeking better representation, health options and pensions from the four Grand Slam tournaments: the Australian Open,<\/a> the French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.<\/p>\n

The overall prize money for the French Open did increase this year, with a 10% increase for an overall pot of 61.7 million euros ($72.1 million), with the total amount up 5.3 million euros from last year.\u00a0While the pot increased, the players claim they are seeing less of the tournament revenues than last year.<\/p>\n

The players claim their share of Roland Garros revenue has declined from 15.5% in 2024 to a projected 14.9% in 2026, and in their statement said the underlying figures tell a different story.<\/p>\n

The players’ statement said Roland Garros generated 395 million euros in revenue in 2025, a 14% year-on-year increase, yet prize money rose by just 5.4%, reducing players\u2019 share of revenue to 14.3%.<\/p>\n

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\"Aryna <\/p>\n

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts against Amanda Anisimova of the United States during the women’s finals of the U.S. Open tennis championships in New York on Sept. 6, 2025. (Yuki Iwamura\/AP)<\/p>\n

“With estimated revenues of over 400 million euros for this year\u2019s tournament, prize money as a percentage of revenue will likely still be less than 15%, far short of the 22% that players have requested to bring the Grand Slams into line with the ATP and WTA Combined 1000 events,” the players said.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Australian Open\u00a0this year increased players\u2019 compensation by 16%, and the\u00a0U.S. Open\u00a0prize money last year went up by 20%.<\/p>\n

Defending French Open champion Coco Gauff cited the WNBA\u2019s new collective bargaining agreement as inspiration.<\/p>\n

“From the things I\u2019ve seen with other sports, usually to make massive progress and things like this, it takes a union,” Gauff said. “We have to become unionized in some way.”<\/p>\n

“We definitely can move more as a collective.”<\/p>\n

AMERICAN TENNIS STAR COCO GAUFF SAYS SHE RECEIVED RACIST MESSAGES FROM GAMBLERS AFTER MADRID OPEN EXIT<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Coco <\/p>\n

Coco Gauff of the United States reacts during the women’s singles fourth-round match against Linda Noskova of Czechia at the Mutua Madrid Open on April 27, 2026, in Madrid, Spain. (Alberto Gardin\/Eurasia Sport Images\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Gauff said she hasn\u2019t heard any discussions of a walkout, but said she could “100%” see one happening if “everyone were to move as one.”<\/p>\n

“I definitely think there\u2019s a consensus around that this needs to be addressed for all players of all levels, especially the lower-ranked players, too,” 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\u2019s something I can be proud of.”<\/p>\n

Jasmine Paolini, the Italian who reached the final of the French Open and Wimbledon in 2024, said the WTA and ATP Tours do more than the Grand Slams to provide players with benefits, such as maternity leave and retirement plans.<\/p>\n

“There\u2019s a lot of things that the Slams are not doing,” Paolini said, “that the WTA and I think the ATP are doing.”<\/p>\n

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\"Jasmine <\/p>\n

Jasmine Paolini of Italy reacts while playing against Hailey Baptiste of the U.S. during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid on April 25, 2026. (Pablo Garcia\/AP Photo)<\/p>\n

She also said a boycott is an option.<\/p>\n

“If we\u2019re all in agreement and I think we are \u2014 the men and the women are united right now \u2014 it\u2019s something we could do,” Paolini said.<\/p>\n

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. Semifinalists earn 750,000 euros and first-round losers get 87,000 euros.<\/p>\n

The Associated Press contributed to this report.<\/p>\n

Follow Fox News Digital\u2019s sports coverage on X<\/a>, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ryan Canfield is a digital production assistant for Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n