Leading tennis players including Jannik Sinner, Coco Gauff, and Aryna Sabalenka have confirmed they will scale back their media obligations during the first week of Wimbledon in a protest over revenue distribution. The action runs from Monday, June 29, to Sunday, July 5, following a similar demonstration at the French Open media day last month.
Players Demand Larger Revenue Share
The players are calling for a bigger slice of revenue allocated through prize money and welfare programmes, alongside greater influence in decision-making. The All England Club recently announced a £10.7 million (20 per cent) increase in prize money for this year's Championships, raising the total pot to £64.2 million. However, the player group argues this represents roughly a 14.4 per cent share of revenue, short of the 22 per cent they are pursuing.
In response, they will limit their contractual media commitments to 15 minutes for the duration of the first week, reflecting that Wimbledon currently pays slightly below 15 per cent of revenues to players as prize money.
Djokovic Withdraws from Exhibition Match
Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, pulled out of an exhibition match against Karen Khachanov at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic without providing a reason. Khachanov subsequently lost to American Martin Damm. Djokovic, seeded No. 7 at Wimbledon, has not competed since his third-round exit at Roland Garros to Joao Fonseca, suggesting he is prioritising rest and fitness. He was seen practising at Wimbledon on Wednesday, indicating he remains on track to compete.
Sinner Returns Trophy
Defending champion Jannik Sinner has ceremonially returned the Wimbledon men's singles trophy to the All England Club. The 24-year-old Italian was presented with the 139-year-old silver-gilt cup on Centre Court last year. The club paid 100 guineas for the trophy in 1887 and introduced a rule that it remains their permanent possession, with champions receiving replicas. The original is kept at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum, while replicas, introduced in 1949, stand at 13.5 inches tall compared to the 18-inch authentic trophy.
Wimbledon 2026 Overview
Wimbledon runs from Monday, June 29, to Sunday, July 12, in SW19. Sinner and Iga Swiatek are defending champions, while last year's runner-up Carlos Alcaraz is out with a wrist injury. Serena Williams' return to singles competition is another major talking point. The main draw for both singles is scheduled for Friday morning.
