Top 20 ATP and WTA Players Demand Larger Share at Grand Slams

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Just days after Novak Djokovic’s Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) initiated a legal challenge against the leading governing bodies in tennis, the top 20 players from both men’s and women’s tours have united in solidarity.

In a revealing article by the French sports publication L’équipe, it has come to light that the elite 20 players from both the ATP and WTA are lobbying for a more equitable share of the revenue generated by the four Grand Slam tournaments.

The players have set forth a compelling case for a significant boost in prize money, highlighting that their earnings are disproportionately lower than those in other professional sports leagues, like the NBA, where athlete revenue shares hover around 50%.

According to L’équipe, tennis players received a mere 16 percent of the total revenues in prize money at Roland-Garros last year.

INFO L’ÉQUIPE: The representatives of the ATP and WTA top 20 have co-signed and sent a letter to the four Grand Slam tournaments, demanding a substantial increase in prize money. Following the PTPA’s legal actions, tensions are rising.https://t.co/oqbbrDgFFB

— Quentin Moynet (@QuentinMoynet) April 2, 2025

“This is about benefiting all players, not just the top contenders. For those who dedicate years of hard work and need fair compensation from the Slams, the stakes are high,” said Zheng Qinwen from Chinq, a signatory to the letter, during a press conference in Charleston. “They also need to afford a strong team to enhance their chances of success. This push for equitable sharing is promising—if you look at basketball, they receive around 50/50.”

She added, “I talked with my manager, and it seems like this could greatly benefit all tennis players. I believe that even players ranked No. 100 need a capable team to climb higher in the rankings. Thus, this initiative is crucial for them too.”

When asked about the likelihood of the Slams responding favorably, Zheng stated:

“I can’t say for sure. We are doing our best to push for this, and we’ll see what unfolds with the Grand Slams. At the very least, we’re making an effort.”