Although Roland Garros has only really just concluded, the grass-court season waits for no one.
It marks arguably the most exciting and painfully short period of the tennis calendar, with events in London, Stuttgart, Halle and beyond all leading to Wimbledon.
However, whilst the Grand Slams are by far the most prestigious tournaments that this sport has to offer, they have come under some intense scrutiny of late.
With players having threatened to boycott the French Open, Wimbledon is next to see if it can survive the strain of these threats from their star names.
The latest update on their prize money will likely not help affairs.
Wimbledon announce 2026 prize money amidst player protests
After all, the main frustration that emerged from Paris was Roland Garros’ inability to increase the percentage of revenue made by the event given to the players.
They argued this was to benefit those lower down the pyramid, but those who would go further would naturally benefit too.
| Event | 2025 | 2026 |
| Australian Open | £50m | £58m |
| French Open | £48m | £53m |
| Wimbledon | £53m | £64m |
| US Open | £67m | Tbc |
However, despite players asking for somewhere in the region of 16%, that will not be the case.
Wimbledon have confirmed that their prize money will be £64.2m this year, a 20% increase on last year but still short of the players’ demands.
They had asked for £70m, and so the disparity might not be large enough to cause that much unrest. However, they have left themselves open to further protests.
Wimbledon leave themselves open to potential player boycott
As referenced, whilst Wimbledon has clearly made a more conscious effort to reach a solution with the players, they have not completely given in to their demands.
Therefore, there remains a chance that protests, and even threats of a boycott, could remain.
Maja Chwalinska must surely now be given a Wimbledon wildcard! 🍓
Of course, very little actually occured in Paris, with the players merely engaging in a 15-minute walk-out during their media day press conferences. It caused little fanfare, aside from a few questions regarding it, before the issue was seemingly forgotten once the event really got started.
Wimbledon might play host to similar theatrics, but it’s clear they have been more amenable in negotiations.
The US Open, which has already drawn criticism for its ludicrous ticket prices, will likely have a far tougher task on its hands satisfying the players.
