Earlier this week, many of the world’s best tennis players released a joint statement expressing their dismay regarding the level of prize money on offer at Roland Garros later this month.
The players – who include Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek – claim the prize money as a percentage of revenue on offer in Paris will fall a long way short of the 22 per cent figure players have requested to bring the Grand Slams into line with the ATP and WTA tours.
Earlier this year, Roland Garros announced a 9.5 per cent pay increase for their 2026 event, with the men’s and women’s singles champions earning €2.8m.
Is a French Open boycott realistic?
Players aren't happy with the prize money on offer…
However, as evidenced by their statement, many of the sport’s top players believe they are receiving a ‘declining share of the value they help create.’
Ahead of her participation in the 2026 Italian Open, world number three Iga Swiatek has offered her thoughts on the issue.
Iga Swiatek hopes players can meet with Roland Garros officials amid player pay dispute
“Yeah, I think we’ve been pretty reasonable in terms of our proposal and getting the fair share of revenue,” Swiatek told reporters in Rome ahead of the Italian Open.
“I think the ‘increase of prize money’ is not exactly, you know, what we wanted because the percentage of revenue is going down. I don’t know if I’m explaining that well in English. I’m sorry.
“I think the most important thing honestly is to have like proper communication and discussions with the governing bodies so we have some space to talk and maybe negotiate.
“Hopefully before Roland Garros there’s going to be opportunity to have these type of meetings and we’ll see how they go.”
Speaking ahead of the Italian Open, Aryna Sabalenka suggested that players could boycott Grand Slam events should the pay dispute remain unresolved.
When asked if players would boycott events, Swiatek added: “Honestly, it’s about different situations over the last years. There have been, like, many discussions in like top-20 group, not specifically related to prize money, but also the war in Ukraine.
“Sometimes players after COVID, there was a bit of mess in terms of the rankings, also prize money and points.
“I think we have, like, good communication between us. Sometimes if it’s an important topic, we are ready to speak together.
| Round | Prize money |
| Champion | €2,800,000 |
| Runner-up | €1,400,000 |
| Semi-finalist | €750,000 |
| Quarter-finalist | €470,000 |
| Fourth round | €285,000 |
| Third round | €187,000 |
| Second round | €130,000 |
| First round | €87,000 |
| Qualifying – third round | €48,000 |
| Qualifying – second round | €33,000 |
| Qualifying – first round | €24,000 |
“Also the same thing happened with scheduling when the changes have been made about mandatory tournaments.
“Unfortunately we were a bit late in terms of the reaction. I think we have, like, pretty clear and similar vision.
“But boycotting the tournament, it’s a bit extreme kind of situation. I don’t know. I guess we as players are here to play as individuals, and we’re competing against each other.
“There have been, like, situations like that, so it’s really hard for me to say how it would work, if it’s even there on the picture.
Who do you think will win the women’s Italian Open this year? 🏆
“For now, I haven’t heard anything [smiling].”
If a large number of players were to boycott a Grand Slam event – like Roland Garros – there would be significant ramifications.
Viewership would most certainly decrease, and interest in the event would most probably decline.
Of course, discussions regarding a boycott represent pure speculation at this moment in time – there is currently no planned boycott of any Grand Slam event on the ATP or WTA Tours.
The full statement
“Roland Garros generated €395m in revenue in 2025, a 14% year-on-year increase, yet prize money rose by only 5.4%, reducing players’ share of revenue to 14.3%,” the co-authored statement read, as reported by The Guardian.
“With estimated revenues of more than €400m for this year’s tournament, prize money as a percentage of revenue will likely still be less than 15%, far short of the 22% that players have requested to bring the grand slams into line with the ATP and WTA tours.
“As Roland Garros looks to post record revenues, players are therefore receiving a declining share of the value they help create.
“More critically, the announcement does nothing to address the structural issues that players have consistently and reasonably raised over the past year.
“There has been no engagement on player welfare and no progress towards establishing a formal mechanism for player consultation within grand-slam decision making.
“The grand slams remain resistant to change.
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“The absence of player consultation and the continued lack of investment in player welfare reflect a system that does not adequately represent the interests of those who are central to the sport’s success.”
It must be made clear that players are not asking for more prize money, but rather a larger cut of the revenue generated by Grand Slam events.
In essence, players are requesting a more proportional share of the Grand Slam revenue.
