A formidable coalition of top tennis players, including reigning Grand Slam champions Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka, Novak Djokovic, and Coco Gauff, has according to Gazzetta, sent a letter to Grand Slam organizers expressing “deep and collective disappointment” regarding the prize money distribution for the upcoming Roland Garros tournament.
The letter, signed by the top twenty male and female players in the world rankings, contests what they perceive as a significant imbalance between the tournament’s soaring revenues and the compensation offered to athletes. This comes ahead of the French Open, where organizers announced a 9.5% increase in prize money, bringing the total to €61.7 million, with singles champions set to receive approximately €2.8 million each.
Disparity in earnings
Players estimate that the announced prize money represents only 14-15% of Roland Garros’s overall revenues. This figure stands in stark contrast to other professional tennis events and major sports leagues:
- ATP and WTA tour tournaments typically distribute around 22% of their revenues as prize money.
- Major US sports leagues see athletes’ share approach 50% of revenues.
- Roland Garros revenues are projected to exceed €400 million this year, following an estimated €395 million in 2025, highlighting the growing financial success of the tournament.
The letter, as reported by Gazzetta, pulls no punches in its assessment of the situation. “As Roland Garros is set to record record revenues, players are receiving an increasingly smaller share of the value they help create,” it states. “Even more critically, the announcement does not address the structural issues that players have consistently and reasonably raised over the past year.” The letter also denounces the absence of dialogue on crucial issues such as athlete well-being and involvement in key decisions, including the calendar.
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This dispute is not new, having simmered for over a year. Novak Djokovic, a prominent signatory of this latest letter, had also signed a similar communication in March 2025, underscoring the persistent nature of the players’ concerns. The letter further lamented that “Grand Slam tournaments are resistant to change.”
In response to the ongoing criticism, the French federation, which manages Roland Garros, maintains that the tournament operates as a non-profit entity. It asserts that all revenues are reinvested into the tournament’s development and infrastructure. Despite this, the players’ collective stance indicates a growing dissatisfaction with the current financial model.
The issue is expected to remain a hot topic, with players like Ben Shelton and Jessica Pegula reportedly ready to discuss it further at the Internazionali d’Italia in Rome, according to The Guardian. The latest letter signals a renewed push from the sport’s biggest names for a more equitable distribution of the wealth they help generate.
Sources: www.gazzetta.it
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