By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, Could 4, 2026
Photograph credit score: Miami Open Fb
Gamers will stage a Grand Slam boycott if the imbroglio over prize cash stays unresolved, says Aryna Sabalenka.
The world No. 1 mentioned: “I feel in some unspecified time in the future we’ll boycott [Slams],” if gamers’ request for a larger share of Grand Slam revenues aren’t met.
“Positively if you see the quantity and also you see the quantity the gamers receiving… I really feel just like the present is on us,” Sabalenka informed the media in Rome at present. “I really feel like with out us there wouldn’t be a match and there wouldn’t be that leisure. I really feel like undoubtedly we should be paid extra proportion.
“What can I say? I simply actually hope that the entire negotiation that we’re having, we in some unspecified time in the future are going to get to the appropriate resolution, to the conclusion that everybody can be proud of.”
Jannik Sinner, Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev are amongst a gaggle of about 20 stars who’ve signed a letter slamming Roland Garros’ 2026 prize cash.
Final month, the match introduced the entire prize cash for the 2026 Roland Garros is €61.723 Million, up 9.53% in contrast with final yr.
Whereas the match touts the prize cash improve, gamers say scratch beneath the floor and that quantity truly represents a lower in participant proportion of income.
Stars criticizing Roland Garros—and the Grand Slams’ prize cash totals—cite three main points:
- Gamers’ share of Roland Garros match income has declined from 15.5% in 2024 to 14.9% projected in 2026, they are saying.
- The Slams have issued no response to gamers’ proposals on welfare, together with pension and long-term well being, in accordance with gamers.
- There was “No progress on truthful and clear participant illustration inside Grand Slam decision-making,” in accordance with gamers.
Truthful pay comes all the way down to income sharing from the Slams’ complete backside line and stars say the gamers usually are not getting it.
In the present day, Sabalenka mentioned if negotiations are unsuccessful, gamers are ready to boycott Slams as “the one strategy to battle for our rights.”
“I feel in some unspecified time in the future we’ll boycott it, yeah,” Sabalenka mentioned. “I really feel like that’s going to be the one strategy to type of, like, battle for our rights.”
The Grand Slams counter they take all monetary danger by constructing infrastructure and really working the occasions—and say they’re elevating prize cash totals, typically to document ranges, yearly.
In a press release, Roland Garros mentioned it’s prize cash will increase are biggest within the qualifying rounds and first three rounds of the match. That’s designed to financially help the lower-ranked gamers who want the cash most to proceed competing on the worldwide tour.
“The whole prize cash for the qualifying occasion has been elevated by 12.9%. The prize cash for the principle draw is up 10.1% in contrast with 2025,” Roland Garros mentioned. “A specific effort has been made for the primary three rounds of the singles draw, with a rise of between 11.11 and 11.54%.”
Former world No. 1 Iga Swiatek mentioned she believes participant are extra unified on vital points, however doesn’t envision a Grand Slam boycott, which she referred to as “a bit excessive.”
“The identical factor occurred with scheduling when the adjustments have been made about necessary tournaments,” Swiatek mentioned. “Sadly we had been a bit late by way of the response. I feel we now have, like, fairly clear and comparable imaginative and prescient.
“However boycotting the match, it’s a bit excessive type of state of affairs. I don’t know. I suppose we as gamers are right here to play as people, and we’re competing towards one another.
“There have been, like, conditions like that, so it’s actually exhausting for me to say how it will work, if it’s even there on the image. For now, I haven’t heard something.”
Elena Rybakina, who rallied from a break all the way down to defeat Sabalenka in a pulsating Australian Open closing in January, mentioned if nearly all of gamers conform to a boycott, then she’s on board and can decide to the trigger.
Nevertheless, Rybakina mentioned she’s skeptical it’ll occur as a result of “for now, not as soon as [have] gamers actually got here collectively and did any adjustments.”
“If the bulk say we’re boycotting, we aren’t enjoying, then in fact I’m up for it. It’s not a problem,” Rybakina mentioned. “I really feel like the advance we have to have, it’s not solely on the Grand Slams and it’s not solely about elevating the prize cash.
“Lots of people usually are not conscious that there’s taxes that are massive. You even make extra prize cash, however you giving all of it to the taxes. It’s a unique matter.
“It’s powerful to say about boycotting. As I mentioned a few years we had totally different points. For not as soon as gamers actually got here collectively and did any adjustments.”
