Unhappy with the prize money on offer at the Grand Slams, several players, including Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka, suggested they would be willing to boycott future events.
Deciding against a French Open boycott this year, many players instead chose to walk out of their press conferences at the 15-minute mark, referencing the 15% revenue share they will receive in Paris.
Will players regret their decision to walk out of press conferences at Roland Garros?
Tensions are high in Paris!
Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala has now shared whether she supports the players.
Alex Eala says she ‘will always be’ on the players’ side as boycott talk divides tennis
After Eala lost to Iva Jovic in her first-round match, she was asked to weigh in on the boycott drama.
“I have also gone through the different stages, and I think all the players in the Grand Slams have gone through the different stages of competing in the Futures and then competing [upwards],” she said.
“I think we all want to leave tennis better than we found it, and that’s why the top 10 players are doing this.
“I really appreciate and admire that they are standing up for everyone, basically.
“I think being at the top of the game they represent a lot.
“They represent the players. I appreciate that.
“For me personally, in my view, there are so many factors, I don’t know how Roland Garros is run.
“I don’t know the specifics and I don’t know the finances especially but I am on the players’ side and I will always be.
“We really need to appreciate the hard work that we go through, and I know the work that needs to be put in to get to this level, so I really appreciate what the top 10 are doing.”
The players are pushing for a 22% revenue share, up seven % from what they will receive at the 2026 French Open.
It’s not the top players that struggle, but those further down the ladder.
Players ranked outside the top-100 or top-200, often struggle to afford the travel and coaching required to compete at the highest level.
Those who are pushing for change believe that a fairer revenue share would allow more players to make a living in tennis.
However, not everyone supports the boycott…
The biggest names who chose not to protest at the French Open
24-time Grand Slam champion, Novak Djokovic, decided against joining the media protest.
“I was not part of the process, plan or decision making,” he said.
“So I’m not part of that at all, and I can’t comment on that.
“What I can keep doing is advocating for players, like I always did.”
Another former Grand Slam champion, Emma Raducanu, was also against the protest.
“I understand, of course, the position of the players compared to the other sports, the percentage is lower,” she said.
“But I’ve just been focused on trying to get myself back at a level, operating well, and for me, it’s also playing a Grand Slam, which isn’t necessarily just about, you know, the money.
“I think it’s a lot more about the prestige. It’s a lot about the history, and that’s what I value the most. So yeah, I’m just grateful to be at another Slam.”
Anastasia Potapova and Marta Kostyuk, the 2026 Madrid Open semi-finalists, were also against the movement.
“It’s difficult; tennis is a unique and complex sport. It’s difficult to compare it to team events, team competitions, because tennis has multiple stakeholders,” said Kostyuk.
“I think to continue the conversation is super important.
“I’m going to be fulfilling my obligations this week.”
“How can we boycott somebody who’s also getting paid from the same tournament?” asked Potapova.
“So I think, for me, it’s a little bit nonsense. I’m not really into this.”
Without the full support of the players, will Grand Slams ever increase their revenue share to 22%?
Only time will tell…
Alex Eala loses again at the French Open
Away from the boycott controversy, Eala suffered another disappointing defeat in Paris.
For the second consecutive year, the Filipina fell at the first hurdle at Roland Garros.
Alex Eala’s French Open record (0-2)
- 2025 French Open 1R [LOSS] vs Emiliana Arango, 0-6, 6-2, 3-6
- 2026 French Open 1R [LOSS] vs Iva Jovic, 4-6, 2-6
She did, however, show encouraging signs during her defeat to Jovic, producing an impressive fightback to keep the first set competitive.
It wasn’t enough, though, as Eala finishes her clay-court season with four wins and six losses.
Alex Eala is OUT of Roland Garros ❌ Where does she rank among the best young talents on the WTA Tour? 🤔
Eala will now turn her attention to the grass-court season, where she impressed last year.
In 2025, Eala reached the Eastbourne final, narrowly losing out to Maya Joint in a three-set thriller.
She will begin her grass-court campaign in Birmingham when the tournament begins on Monday, June 1.
