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World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka sent a warning on Tuesday that tennis players could boycott the French Open if organizers fail to increase their share of revenue, escalating tensions ahead of the clay-court Grand Slam.
Sabalenka threatens French Open boycott over prize money dispute; reunites with Guaff, Sinner
Speaking at the Italian Open on her 28th birthday, Sabalenka said a boycott may be the only way to secure fairer compensation, with World No. 4 Coco Gauff voicing strong support for unified player action. She said:
"I think at some point we will boycott it, yeah. I feel like that's going to be the only way to fight for our rights.”
The Belarusian added:
"Let's see how far we can get. If it's going to take players for a boycott... some of the things, I feel like it's really unfair to the players."
Players currently receive less than 15% of Roland Garros revenue and are demanding 22% to align with levels at other major events. French Open organizers recently announced a 9.5% increase in the prize fund to €61.7 million for 2026, but players argue this still lags behind other Grand Slams and fails to reflect the tournament's growing commercial success.
Top players, including men's World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, issued a joint statement expressing "deep disappointment" with the offer. Gauff stated that the push is not just for top earners but for mid- and lower-ranked players who rely on Slam payouts. She expressed openness to a boycott if players act collectively and advocated for forming a stronger union-like structure to address financial disparities.
Negotiations are ongoing, but Sabalenka stressed the need for meaningful change to ensure players are properly rewarded for generating the event's entertainment value. The French Open is scheduled to begin on May 24.
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