Top Female Tennis Players Threaten French Open Boycott Over Unfair Prize Money
Top female tennis players including world number one Aryna Sabalenka have threatened to boycott the French Open unless organizers increase prize money to match the revenue share offered at other major tournaments.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka has revealed that top-ranked female tennis players may boycott the Grand Slam tournament French Open if prize money is not increased appropriately. Although Roland Garros organizers announced a 9.5% increase in total prize money to €61.7 million (approximately $72.19 million) this year, this increase is insufficient to resolve the dispute. Leading players have stated that prize money represents less than 15% of the tournament's total revenue, far below the 22% standard set by ATP and WTA tournaments.
Speaking on behalf of female tennis players, Sabalenka stated: "I think at some point we will boycott the tournament. I feel that's the only way to fight for our rights. Let's see how far we can go. Some things that are happening feel completely unfair to athletes. This competition is driven by us. Without athletes, these tournaments and entertainment wouldn't exist. So we should receive a larger share of the revenue."
World number four Coco Gauff agreed 100%, supporting a boycott for the future of the sport, particularly to help players ranked 50 to 200 who lack major sponsorship deals and many of whom struggle financially. Gauff also suggested that tennis players establish a "union" similar to the women's basketball league (WNBA), which successfully reached an agreement after lengthy negotiations.
