Tennis stars could boycott Grand Slams in prize money dispute, Gauff and Sabalenka say

Key Points:

• Top tennis players, including Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina, have expressed potential plans to boycott Grand Slam tournaments to demand better prize money shares and player representation, citing unfair revenue distribution.
• The players' group criticizes Grand Slams for allocating only about 15% of French Open revenue to prize money, compared to 22% at joint ATP/WTA events and nearly 50% in major U.S. sports leagues, highlighting a lack of consultation and investment in player welfare.
• Despite ongoing discussions since early 2025 and some progress in player unity, negotiations with tournament organizers have stalled, with players demanding reforms including a Grand Slam Player Council and increased prize money proportional to revenue.
• Some top players like Iga Świątek view a boycott as an extreme measure but emphasize the importance of communication with governing bodies, while others note the historical precedent of player boycotts in tennis and other sports as a means to achieve change.
• Analysts note the challenges in organizing a collective boycott due to tennis players not being unionized and having to negotiate with four separate national federations, but emphasize that collective player action has historically been necessary to secure better revenue sharing and rights in professional sports.