PARIS — Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo announced on Thursday that the prize money for the French Open will remain unchanged this year, despite vocal protests from players advocating for a larger allocation.
Numerous top athletes have expressed dissatisfaction with the organizers, claiming that the players’ share of tournament revenue has reportedly dwindled to a mere 14.3 percent, markedly less than the 22 percent typical at regular ATP and WTA events.
In an effort to voice their grievances, many competitors participating at Roland Garros, set to kick off on Sunday, are planning to restrict their media engagement to just 15 minutes during Friday’s customary pre-tournament media session.
Mauresmo, a celebrated champion of both the Australian Open and Wimbledon, expressed her willingness to engage in discussions, showing optimism about reaching a resolution. A meeting is anticipated on Friday, bringing together tournament officials and players along with their representatives.
However, when asked if prize money could be adjusted this year, Mauresmo firmly stated: “No, we are not going to change anything. We will initiate discussions and that’s what everyone seeks.”
Leading players, including top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and No. 4 Coco Gauff, have recently voiced their support for a potential Grand Slam boycott unless they see improvements in their compensation.
Roland Garros organizers did announce a roughly 10% increase in total prize money, while the U.S. Open raised its payout by 20% last year, and this year’s Australian Open saw a 16% boost.
The total purse for the French Open has reached 61.7 million euros ($72 million), which is an increase of 5.3 million euros from the previous year. However, players assert that their share of Roland Garros revenue has dropped from 15.5% in 2024 to a projected 14.9% in 2026. They highlight that the event generated €395 million in 2025, marking a 14% year-on-year surge, yet the prize money grew by just 5.4%, thus constricting the players’ revenue share to 14.3%.
Winners of the singles competitions at Roland Garros will each earn 2.8 million euros, which is an increase of 250,000 euros compared to 2025.
“I’m not saying everything will be resolved instantly,” Mauresmo remarked, “But discussions will persist, likely continuing after the tournament.”
