Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka are among the world's leading tennis players who have voiced deep disappointment over the French Open's prize money and a lack of progress on other longstanding complaints.
What Has Happened
The second Grand Slam tournament of the season is set to begin this month in Paris, and organisers have confirmed a 9.53 per cent increase in this year's total prize fund. However, the players argue that their share of tournament revenue has actually decreased compared to previous years.
Prize Money Details
The singles champions will receive a winners' cheque worth approximately £2.4 million (€2.8 million), up from the £2.2 million (€2.55 million) awarded to Alcaraz and Coco Gauff when they claimed the trophies in 2025. Despite this nominal increase, leading players point out that their share of the overall tournament revenue has declined.
Player Complaints
The players claim that increased tournament revenue means their portion of the prize pot will have fallen from 2024 levels to less than 15 per cent — well short of their stated target of 22 per cent. This figure is also dwarfed by the 20 per cent rise seen at last year's US Open, while the Australian Open increased prize money by nearly 16 per cent in January.
Other key grievances include the lack of a response regarding investment in welfare programmes, such as pension contributions, and no progress on player representation at the decision-making level within Grand Slam tournaments.
Players Involved
On the men's side, the statement was signed by Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alex de Minaur. On the women's side, signatories included Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys, Jasmine Paolini, Emma Navarro, Zheng Qinwen, Paula Badosa and Mirra Andreeva.
Official Statement
A joint statement released by the players read: "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."
The statement continued: "There has been no engagement on player welfare and no progress towards establishing a formal mechanism for player consultation within Grand Slam decision-making. While other major international sports are modernising governance, aligning stakeholders and building long-term value, the grand slams remain resistant to change. 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."
Conclusion
The statement concluded by saying the players "will continue to advocate for constructive dialogue and for reforms that ensure the long-term health and integrity of professional tennis."
