A group of elite tennis players has delivered a follow-up letter to the major Grand Slam tournaments, advocating for an increased revenue share—from the current 16% to 22% by 2030. They are also seeking improvements in pension, health, and maternity benefits, aiming for an annual contribution of $12 million (CAD$16.67 million) by the same year, alongside the establishment of a new player council for greater influence.
This correspondence, dated July 30, features signatures from tennis luminaries such as Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Jack Draper, notably excluding Novak Djokovic, who was absent from the initial letter sent earlier in March.
The recently reviewed letter, shared with The Associated Press, lays out precise proposals for how the four premier and most profitable tournaments in tennis could enhance financial offerings and empower athletes.
The players are collaborating with Larry Scott, a consultant who previously served as the chairman and CEO of the WTA women’s tour and headed the Pac-12 conference in American collegiate athletics.
Discussions have taken place among Scott, select players, and officials from the All England Club (Wimbledon), the French Tennis Federation (Roland-Garros), Tennis Australia (the Australian Open), and the U.S. Tennis Association (the U.S. Open).
Responses from all four tournaments to the July 30 letter have been received.
The USTA’s reply, dated August 18 and accessed by the AP, was penned by interim co-CEO Brian Vahaly and Stacey Allaster, the chief executive of professional tennis, who just concluded her final U.S. Open as tournament director.
“We have consistently demonstrated a willingness to enhance player compensation,” Vahaly and Allaster noted. “This is evidenced by the 57% increase in the U.S. Open purse over the past five years, particularly when we collaborate with players to boost revenue. The current year’s substantial increase to $90 million (CAD$125.09 million) reflects growth from adding an extra day to the main draw singles competition.”
U.S. Open singles titlists Sabalenka and Alcaraz each celebrated a groundbreaking prize of $5 million (CAD$6.95 million) this month.
Vahaly and Allaster further emphasized their intention “to reaffirm our dedication to open, transparent dialogues with players to cultivate a sustainable future for the entire tennis ecosystem, encompassing a healthier calendar, improved player consultation, and greater financial rewards for all stakeholders involved.”
The players’ March letter coincided with the co-founding of the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA) by Djokovic, who also filed an antitrust lawsuit against the men’s and women’s professional tours in New York federal court—though he was not among the plaintiffs.
This antitrust action argues for increased earnings for players, pointing out that a disproportionate amount of revenue fails to reach the athletes and outlines various grievances regarding the sport’s governance. In May, the WTA and ATP tours jointly sought to dismiss this lawsuit.
While the original case did not name the Grand Slam organizers as defendants, they have since been included, as announced by the PTPA this week.
“This is a crucial step towards ensuring accountability across all parties,” the PTPA stated, “and it will help expedite the long-overdue reforms needed for the entire tennis ecosystem.”
