Top Tennis Stars Urge Grand Slams to ‘Come to the Table’ Over Prize Money

Sabalenka, Top Stars Demand Greater Prize Money & Welfare from Grand Slams

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has issued a public call to the Grand Slam tournaments, urging them to “come to the table” for serious discussions over fairer prize money distribution and player welfare reforms.

Sabalenka, along with top ATP and WTA names including Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Coco Gauff, and Casper Ruud, is part of a growing movement demanding a greater share of tournament revenue and structural changes to protect mental and physical well-being.

What Are the Players Asking For?

The elite group has submitted formal proposals to the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open, outlining three key demands:

1. Increased Prize Money Ratios

• Players are calling for a higher percentage of Slam revenue to be paid in prize money.

• Current payouts stand at 12.5–20% of revenue (disputed by Grand Slams).

• Players want a staged increase to at least 22%, in line with top ATP/WTA events.

2. Player Welfare Contributions

• Request for Slams to contribute to pension, maternity, and healthcare funds.

• Currently, only ATP and WTA contribute (£60m annually), Slams contribute zero.

3. Structural and Scheduling Reforms

• End to grueling match times, late-night finishes, and elongated tournaments.

• Players want a seat at the table in major Slam decision-making processes.

Voices of the Movement

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz – who have swept the men’s Grand Slam titles between them in the past two seasons – are among the players asking for change

“The Slams are the top of our sport. I would just ask that they come to the table to have a conversation and see if we can find mutually beneficial solutions,”

— Aryna Sabalenka, BBC Sport

“It’s been a long time since we had ATP and WTA players work together for change,”

— Casper Ruud, 3-time Slam finalist

“The talks were constructive at first. But the latest responses were disappointing,”

— Belinda Bencic, Olympic gold medallist

Why Now? Frustration Boils Over

• Talks began in March 2025, when top 20 stars signed a letter requesting formal meetings with the four Slams.

• PTPA (Professional Tennis Players’ Association) filed legal action this year over “anti-competitive practices.”

• Player meetings with Slam bosses took place during Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

• Despite submitting custom proposals, players say responses have been vague or dismissive.

“We’ve received replies from all four Grand Slams, but we’re infuriated by the lack of real movement,” a source told BBC Sport.

Now, the stars have gone public, signaling they may pursue further actions, though no boycott or legal threats have been confirmed yet.

Slam Prize Money vs Revenue: The Gap

• Grand Slams reportedly pay between 12.5–20% of total revenue as prize money.

  • (Australian Open claims 23%, though unverified)

• In contrast, major US sports leagues (NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB) pay 40–50% of revenue to athletes.

• Players argue for tennis to inch closer to team sports models with increased equity.

“We’re not saying tennis should look like the NBA, but there’s space for reform,” said Ben Shelton.

What Do the Slams Say?

Grand Slam organisers emphasize their rising financial support:

• Wimbledon: £53.5m in prize pool for 2025

  • 128% increase in first-round prize since 2014

  • 309% increase in qualifying rounds

• All England Club:

  “We remain open to constructive dialogue… and have been in regular contact with players and reps.”

The Australian Open, Roland Garros, and US Open have yet to respond to media requests.

What Comes Next?

With unity growing between the ATP and WTA’s top stars, the pressure is now on the Grand Slams to avoid escalation.

While the players have not outlined specific next steps, their tone indicates they are prepared to escalate if ignored.

Whether it leads to boycotts, legal action, or further public campaigns, the balance of power in tennis governance may be shifting.