Top tennis players are set to stage a protest at Wimbledon 2026 by limiting their media commitments during the first week of the tournament, demanding a larger share of revenue. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from an exhibition match, sparking questions about his fitness ahead of the Grand Slam.
Player Protest Over Prize Money
A group of prominent tennis stars, including reigning Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner, Coco Gauff, and Aryna Sabalenka, have announced they will reduce their media obligations for the opening week of Wimbledon as a form of protest. The demonstration is scheduled to run from Monday, 29 June, through to Sunday, 5 July. Players have been demanding a larger proportion of revenue, distributed through prize money and contributions to welfare schemes, as well as a more significant say in decisions that affect them.
The All England Club recently unveiled a considerable £10.7 million, or 20 per cent, rise in prize money for this year's Championships, taking the total fund to £64.2 million. However, the elite group of players has pointed out that this represents prize money accounting for approximately 14.4 per cent of revenue, which falls below the 22 per cent they are seeking. They will therefore "limit their contractual media commitments at the tournament to 15 minutes - reflecting that Wimbledon currently pays slightly below 15 per cent of revenues to players as prize money - for the duration of the first week of the Championships."
Djokovic Withdraws From Exhibition Match
Novak Djokovic recently withdrew from an exhibition match against Karen Khachanov, raising fresh questions over his fitness ahead of Wimbledon. The Serbian legend has made it customary to compete in the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic each year as part of his preparation for the third Grand Slam of 2026. However, the 24-time Grand Slam winner pulled out without offering any explanation ahead of Wednesday's fixture. Khachanov subsequently faced and was defeated by American Martin Damm.
Djokovic is seeded No. 7 at Wimbledon and continues his bid to defy Father Time, though he has not featured in competitive action since his third-round defeat to Joao Fonseca at Roland Garros. This suggests he is affording his body adequate time to fully recover and to conserve his energy for the Grand Slam tournaments. Nevertheless, he was spotted practising at Wimbledon on Wednesday morning, signalling he remains set to take part in next week's competition.
Sinner Returns Wimbledon Trophy
Sinner has ceremonially returned the Wimbledon men's singles trophy to the All England Club as he gears up to defend his title. The Italian was awarded the 139-year-old trophy on Centre Court 12 months ago for the first time in his career. The 24-year-old was not allowed to keep the original, and it was formally handed back this week. The All England Club paid 100 guineas to purchase the current silver-gilt cup in 1887 and brought in a new regulation that same year. The cup would become the club's permanent property, with future champions receiving a replica. After the championship draws to a close, the genuine trophy is returned to the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum. The champion's name is inscribed on the silverware immediately following their triumph and they can display it at the Champions Dinner that same evening. Following its return, replicas are subsequently issued. These were introduced in 1949 and measure 13.5 inches in height, compared to the 18-inch original trophy.
