Tennis players seeking more prize money say they won't go public with their protests anymore

The Player Advisory Council acknowledged that the Grand Slams have yet to meet players’ target of receiving 22% of tournament revenues by 2030. (Wimbledon pic)NEW YORK: Top tennis players said on Monday they would cease to publicly campaign for greater influence and financial benefits from the four Grand Slams, choosing instead to pursue their objectives through a new Player Advisory Council.Players launched their campaign in March 2025 for a greater voice in Grand Slam decision-making, more player welfare funding and a larger share of tournament revenues, including a proposal for them to receive 22% of tournament revenues as prize money.The campaign gained momentum this year as players cut short pre-tournament media duties at the French Open and Wimbledon in protest, while the Grand Slams have all increased prize money amid growing pressure from the group.The players said the agreement on a council and the progress toward their key objectives marked a "significant step" forward."The players will now work directly with the Grand Slams to establish the council, through which players themselves will be directly consulted and able to negotiate on an ongoing basis," the group said in a statement.The group acknowledged that the Grand Slams had yet to meet players' target of receiving 22% of tournament revenues by 2030, but said prize money had risen significantly since the campaign began last year.Prize pots have risen across the majors, with this year's purses reaching US$79.92 million at the Australian Open, US$71.56 million at the French Open, US$86.79 million at Wimbledon and a record US$108 million at the U.S. Open.The group estimated that more than US$30 million of recent prize-money increases across the majors exceeded historical growth trends and welcomed a French Open proposal to link payouts to tournament profits.Players said they would let the formally established council pursue their outstanding objectives through engagement with the four Grand Slams.They also welcomed the US Open becoming the first Grand Slam to commit US$2 million toward player welfare, saying they hoped the contribution would increase over time and prompt similar proposals from the other three majors."This stands as a testament to the gains made possible by concerted, unified player action in an individual sport, and by constructive dialogue with the Grand Slams and tournament org…

Top tennis players who have been protesting for a larger share of revenues from the biggest tournaments in the sport say they will no longer go public with their demands now that a Grand Slam Player Advisory Council has been formed.“The players will now work directly with the Grand Slams to establish the council, through which players themselves will be directly consulted and able to negotiate on an ongoing basis,” a statement from the players’ representatives said Monday.The Grand Slam Player Advisory Council was announced last month by the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.“Now that a formal council exists to carry this work forward, the public phase of the campaign led by the unified group of top players comes to a close,” the players' statement said. “Players reserve the right to re-start the campaign should the council fail to deliver on these aims.”Besides a bigger cut of revenues, the players have also sought better representation, health options and pensions.

Some limited their media appearances at the French Open and Wimbledon as a protest, with Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff among the stars who even threatened a potential boycott of the Slams before play began in Paris if they didn’t start receiving more compensation.The players had asked for 22% of tournament revenues.“While the Grand Slams have not yet reached this figure or committed to formal revenue sharing agreements, all have increased prize money significantly beyond their long-term trend prior to the campaign, over the past 18 months,” the players’ statement said.“Since the players’ formal proposal was submitted on 31 July 2025, prize money across these Grand Slam tournaments — the 2025 and 2026 US Open and the 2026 Australian Open, Wimbledon and Roland Garros — has grown to $415.6 million in total, with players estimating that more than $30 million of that reflects incremental gains above the rate of growth in the years before the campaign began.”The Australian Open, French Open and U.S. Open are operated by nonprofit governing bodies. Wimbledon is run by the private All England Club.___See AP’s full tennis coverage here