Crisis Looms: Athletes at War with Roland Garros Over Prize Money

Tensions are escalating between the world's tennis elite and the Grand Slams. An informal alliance of the top twenty players, dubbed Project RedEye, has voiced its displeasure following the announcement of Roland-Garros' 2026 prize money, deeming the increase insufficient and feeling disrespected by the lack of prior consultation.

The controversy reignited on April 17th when the French Tennis Federation announced a 9.5% increase in prize money for the 2026 edition, the largest growth in the clay-court tournament over the past three years. However, what was presented as positive news sparked outrage among leading players such as Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Aryna Sabalenka.

In a formal statement issued on Sunday, the athletes expressed their frustration for two main reasons. Firstly, the increase falls short of what they consider fair, given that tournament revenues are estimated to be growing at 14% annually. Secondly, and perhaps more critically, the decision was made unilaterally, without any contact or consultation with the players.

This situation is seen as a setback in a battle that began over a year ago. It's worth remembering that in the week leading up to Roland-Garros 2025, the tennis elite had already met to demand a significantly larger share of revenues and a greater commitment to their professional well-being. Players feel that the 13-15% of revenues allocated to them by the Grand Slams is almost an insult, especially when compared to the 22% already practiced by the main ATP and WTA tournaments.

The players' demands are clear and divided into three points. They require prize money equivalent to at least 22% of total revenues. They also demand a contribution from the Grand Slams to a welfare fund, covering pensions, injury insurance, and maternity leave, something the ATP and WTA tours already finance. Finally, they are calling for the creation of formal and meaningful consultation mechanisms, stating they will not participate in any Grand Slam player council until they see concrete progress on the first two points.

The players' campaign has been coordinated by Larry Scott, former WTA CEO. The movement intensified in March 2025, with a letter sent to the four Grand Slams, followed by meetings at Roland-Garros, attended by Sinner, and at the US Open. Sabalenka has been one of the most vocal advocates. Players felt there was some progress at the US Open, with a 20% increase in prize money, and at the Australian Open, with 16%, but Roland-Garros' stance was a cold shower.

“They just issued a press release,” a source close to the players told Tennis Majors. “The players were pretty upset about it.”

In turn, the Grand Slams defend themselves, pointing to the opportunity they offer players to participate in creating a unified calendar and a council to shape the future of the sport. They also claim that the ongoing lawsuit, filed by the PTPA (Professional Tennis Players Association) in 2025 against tennis's governing bodies, is a legal obstacle to collective meetings. The only exception to this position came from Craig Tiley, the outgoing CEO of the Australian Open, who expressed willingness to collaborate with the PTPA, distancing himself from the other Slams.

However, players insist that their fight is independent of the PTPA's legal action, although the underlying cause is the same: achieving better financial rights and governance standards closer to those of other major professional leagues.

A group of tennis players, including names like Alcaraz and Zverev, demands to be recognized as a legitimate voice in discussions with the Grand Slams, who have so far refused to engage. Tensions are rising, and players are considering all options, with next steps possibly to be revealed in Rome this week.

While it lacks an official name, beyond the provisional title Project Red Eye — though Fair Share has been suggested — the group shares a central demand: the right to participate in prize money discussions. Players view the Grand Slams' arguments as convenient excuses. Although there's a legal reason preventing the four tournaments from collectively discussing prize money — which would constitute anti-competitive collusion — athletes feel there's always a new pretext for nothing to move forward.

It's worth noting that while Alcaraz and Zverev are among the signatories, they have remained distant from the PTPA's legal campaign in recent months. On the other hand, the absence of prominent names like Elena Rybakina, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Ben Shelton from the list of signatories should not be interpreted as opposition. According to Tennis Majors, the list represents a consensus, and players like Jack Draper, Belinda Bencic, and Gaby Dabrowski have been quite active and vocal within the group.

The future remains uncertain, but an escalation of the conflict seems increasingly likely. Players are expected to make public statements in Rome. A new meeting of the group is also planned during the Roland Garros tournament at the end of May, similar to last year, although it is not confirmed whether French tournament officials will be present.

A source revealed to Tennis Majors that “the players are frustrated” and that “they are considering all options.”

In this context, all eyes are now on Wimbledon. The All England Club's announcement regarding prize money is expected next month and will be closely watched by players. The decision will clarify whether this confrontation is solely with Roland Garros or encompasses all four Grand Slams.