Top Tennis stars renew push for prize money and player voice
Tennis is bracing for fresh turbulence as the sport’s biggest names step up calls for change. A group of leading players has sent a second formal letter to the four Grand Slam tournaments, demanding higher prize money, stronger welfare provisions, and a greater say in decisions that affect their careers.
The letter, delivered in August following an initial approach in March, underscores rising frustration among athletes who feel sidelined in key discussions. Players sought dialogue with the Grand Slam board ahead of or during the US Open, but the response suggested that meaningful reform would have to wait on broader questions such as the congested calendar and the prospect of a breakaway “premium tour.”
That delay has only heightened tensions as the Australian Open looms in January, with the entire sport set to converge in Melbourne against a backdrop of unresolved issues.
Among the signees are a formidable cross-section of the modern game: Iga Świątek, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, and Australia’s own Alex de Minaur, among others. Novak Djokovic, who signed the initial letter, did not lend his name to the second, signaling a quieter stance on off-court disputes.
The players’ demands center on three core areas:
- Welfare benefits: a push for contributions from the slams toward pensions, healthcare, maternity pay, and education programs.
- Consultation: frustration over major decisions — from final-set tiebreak formats to Sunday tournament starts — being made without player input, and a call for a formal player council to collaborate with organizers.
- Prize money: a demand for revenue distribution to be brought closer in line with ATP and WTA events, which allocate about 22% of their income to players compared with 13–15% at the majors.
Supporters of reform argue that prize money boosts are not just about the sport’s stars but about safeguarding opportunities for lower-ranked professionals. For many, a first-round loss at a major can bankroll an entire season, covering travel and coaching costs in a sport with few safety nets.
The movement is not without precedent. In leagues such as the NBA, players have collectively bargained for a 50-50 revenue split with team owners. Tennis stars now point to such models as evidence that a more equitable system is possible — and overdue.
Whether the Grand Slams will be ready to negotiate remains to be seen. What is clear is that as the Australian Open approaches, the conversation around player welfare and financial equity is set to be as heated as the on-court action.
