Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka, and Coco Gauff are among 20 top tennis players who signed a letter addressed to the heads of the four Grand Slam tournaments, demanding increased prize money and a stronger role in decisions that directly affect them.
The letter, dated March 21, requests an in-person meeting at the Madrid Open later this month with the tournament leaders: Craig Tiley (Australian Open), Stephane Morel (French Open), Sally Bolton (Wimbledon), and Lew Sherr (U.S. Open).
The document features signatures from 10 of the top 11 women in the March 3 rankings, excluding Elena Rybakina, and all of the top 10 men. Among the women are Sabalenka, Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys, Jasmine Paolini, Emma Navarro, Zheng Qinwen, Paula Badosa, and Mirra Andreeva. The men include Sinner, Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Alex de Minaur.
Of these 20 players, 15 have either won a Grand Slam title or reached a major final.
Their demands focus on three key areas:
- Grand Slam tournaments should contribute financially to player welfare programs supported by the pro tours.
- Prize money should be adjusted to reflect a fair percentage of tournament revenues, acknowledging the players’ contribution to the events’ value.
- Players should have a more significant voice in decisions affecting competition, health, and welfare.
This letter comes shortly after the players’ association co-founded by Djokovic filed an antitrust lawsuit in New York against the men’s and women’s pro tours, the International Tennis Federation, and the sport’s integrity agency. Djokovic wasn’t listed as a plaintiff, as he preferred other players to lead the charge. The lawsuit highlights the need for better revenue distribution and addresses several governance issues in the sport.
Notably, the U.S. Open reportedly generated more revenue from a single cocktail ($12.8 million) than it paid to the men’s and women’s champions combined. In response, the U.S. Tennis Association announced a record $75 million in total compensation for the 2024 U.S. Open, a 15% increase from the previous year.
Wimbledon offered around $64 million in prizes in 2024, while the French Open and Australian Open each provided approximately $58 million.
A USTA spokesperson stated, “We are always open to direct conversations with players to enhance the event for their benefit and that of fans. The U.S. Open has led in player compensation for over 50 years, offering equal prize money to men and women and the largest purse in tennis history at the 2024 U.S. Open.”
The next Grand Slam, the French Open, is set to begin on May 25 in Paris.
