PARIS — As the French Open approaches, players are gearing up to curtail their media engagements to voice their concerns over prize money distribution.
A faction of players has taken aim at the forthcoming clay-court tournament, citing a stark reduction in player revenue share to an alarming 14.3 percent—significantly lower than the 22 percent allocated at other ATP and WTA tournaments.
Notable stars like top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and No. 4 Coco Gauff previously threatened to boycott the Grand Slams if their compensation does not see an uptick.
L’Equipe reported Wednesday that many competitors at Roland Garros, starting Sunday, plan to restrict their interactions with the press to just 15 minutes during the customary media day on Friday.
The French Tennis Federation (FFT), which organizes the French Open, expressed regret over the players’ decision, stating it “penalizes all involved in the tournament: the media, broadcasters, federation staff, and the tennis community that passionately follows each edition of Roland Garros.”
Sabalenka, along with No. 1 Jannik Sinner and other top 10 players, voiced “deep disappointment” over the prize money structure earlier this month.
These players are also advocating for improved representation, health benefits, and pension plans from all four Grand Slam events: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and U.S. Open.
Last month, Roland Garros officials announced a 10 percent increase in cumulative prize money, bringing the total to 61.7 million euros (approximately US$72.1 million), with an additional 5.3 million euros added compared to last year. However, players contend that “the underlying figures reveal a drastically different picture,” claiming their revenue share is indeed shrinking.
The FFT conveyed its commitment to maintaining an open dialogue, proposing a meeting on Friday with players and their representatives.
“The FFT is prepared for constructive discussions on governance to empower players in decision-making, enhance social protections, and adjust value distribution, having presented several proposals during previous meetings,” it stated.
Players assert that their share of Roland Garros revenue has dipped from 15.5 percent in 2024 to a projected 14.9 percent in 2026. They noted that the event amassed 395 million euros in 2025, a 14 percent increase from the previous year, yet prize money only grew by 5.4 percent, leading to a further decrease in players’ revenue share to 14.3 percent.
“With estimated revenues surpassing 400 million euros for this year’s tournament, prize money as a percentage of revenue is expected to remain below 15 percent, far from the 22 percent requested by players to align the Grand Slams with ATP and WTA Combined 1000 events,” the players stated.
This year, the Australian Open increased player compensation by 16 percent, while the U.S. Open raised its prize money by 20 percent last year.
The singles champions at Roland Garros will each take home 2.8 million euros, marking an increase of 250,000 euros from 2025.
“Beyond prize money, a Grand Slam event like Roland Garros provides players with unparalleled exposure, leading to indirect earnings through sponsorships, partnerships, exhibitions, and appearance fees,” the FFT added.
“This year, the French Tennis Federation also opted to allocate a significant portion of these increases to players who exit in the early stages of the main draw and qualifying rounds, raising their earnings by over 11 percent to better support those relying on tournament income to sustain their careers.”
