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World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has hinted at the possibility of Grand Slam boycotts as a means to secure better financial conditions for tennis players. The Belarusian star voiced her frustration on Tuesday during a press conference on the sidelines of the WTA 1000 Rome tournament.
“At some point, we will have to boycott if it’s the only solution to defend our rights,” Sabalenka stated, emphasizing the athletes' pivotal role. “We are the show. Without us, there would be no tournaments, no entertainment. I believe we deserve to be paid better.”
The controversy follows a letter, released Monday by a collective of players, expressing their “deep disappointment” with the prize money increase planned for Roland Garros. While the total prize fund for the 2026 edition is set to rise from €56.4 million to €61.7 million, players lament that “the percentage of earnings allocated to male and female players will likely remain below 15%, far from the 22% demanded.”
This collective of tennis players, which includes prominent names like Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Coco Gauff, and Iga Swiatek herself, had already presented their demands to organizers in April 2025. Beyond a larger share of revenue, ATP and WTA tour players are calling for the creation of a pension fund to finance retirements, healthcare, and maternity leave, as well as greater involvement in decisions that affect them.
However, not everyone shares the same radical approach. Iga Swiatek, the world No. 3, adopted a more moderate stance ahead of her Rome debut. The Polish player believes the solution lies in more dialogue and negotiation with tournament organizers. “Boycotting tournaments would still be a somewhat extreme solution,” she argued.
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