World number one Aryna Sabalenka warned on Tuesday that players could boycott the French Open if prize money negotiations at Roland Garros do not produce a fairer outcome, with Coco Gauff backing the move and calling for players to form a union.
The dispute centres on how Roland Garros distributes its revenue, despite the tournament increasing its total prize pool by 9.5 percent to 61.7 million euros ($72.19 million) this year. Top players say they will still receive less than 15 percent of tournament revenue, well short of the 22 percent they are demanding, a share that would bring them in line with combined ATP and WTA 1000 events.
Speaking to reporters at the Italian Open in Rome, Sabalenka did not rule out a walkout.
“I think at some point we will boycott it. I feel like that’s going to be the only way to fight for our rights,” she said. “Let’s see how far we can get, if it’s going to take players to boycott… Some of the things, I feel like it’s really unfair to the players.”
She also expressed hope that talks would lead to a resolution. “I just really hope that all of the negotiation that we are having, we at some point are going to get to the right decision, to the conclusion that everyone will be happy with.”
Despite the 5.4 million euro increase over last year, Roland Garros remains the lowest-paying Grand Slam.
The US Open offered $90 million in 2024, Wimbledon paid out 53.5 million pounds ($72.51 million), and the Australian Open set a record of $80.06 million earlier this year.
World number four Gauff said she could “100 percent see” a boycott happening if players acted collectively.
“It’s not about me. It’s about the future of our sport and also the current players who aren’t getting as much benefits, maybe, as even some of the top players are getting when it comes to sponsorship and things like that,” she said.
“When you look at the players ranked 50 to 100, 50 to 200, how much money each Slam makes, it’s kind of unfortunate where the 200 best tennis players are living paycheck to paycheck,” she added.
Gauff pointed to the Women’s National Basketball Association as a model, noting that the WNBA players’ union secured a tentative collective bargaining agreement this year after nearly 17 months of negotiations.
“Just taking what the WNBA accomplished, they also have a union, so I think that helps,” she said. “From the things I’ve seen with other sports, usually to make massive progress in things like this, it takes a union.”
Sabalenka echoed the sentiment on what players bring to the sport. “I feel like the show is on us. Without us there wouldn’t be a tournament and there wouldn’t be that entertainment. I feel like definitely we deserve to be paid more percentage.”
The French Tennis Federation did not respond to a request for comment. The French Open begins in Paris on May 25.
