Wimbledon 2026: Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner lead players limiting media duties over prize money
BBC • • sports
Key Points:
- Aryna Sabalenka and other top players are limiting their Grand Slam media appearances to 15 minutes at Wimbledon to protest prize money distribution and demand greater financial support for player welfare, including pensions and maternity leave.
- Wimbledon has increased its prize money by 20% to £64.2 million, the largest annual rise in its history, but some players feel this still does not adequately address revenue sharing concerns.
- Not all players are participating in the protest; defending champions Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner limited media duties, while Novak Djokovic fully engaged with the press, highlighting divisions within the player group.
- The protest follows a similar action at the French Open, with players emphasizing the need for fairer revenue distribution as their share has decreased over the past decade despite increased tournament revenues.
- Wimbledon’s chief executive expressed surprise and disappointment at the protest, while some players, like Alex de Minaur, acknowledged Wimbledon’s prize money increase as a positive step forward.
