Sinner and Gauff Threaten French Open Boycott Over $72M Prize Dispute

Rising Tensions Over French Open Prize Money

Tennis stars are increasingly vocal about their dissatisfaction with the prize money structure at the French Open, with some even considering a boycott if their demands are not met. Jannik Sinner, one of the sport's top players, has been particularly outspoken on the issue, emphasizing that the matter is not just about money but also about respect.

A Call for Respect and Fair Compensation

Sinner, who is 24 years old, expressed his frustration during a press conference ahead of the Italian Open in Rome. He stated, "It's more about respect, you know? Because I think we give much more than what we are getting back. It's not only for the top players, it's for all of us players."

The dispute centers around how the tournament's revenue is distributed between the players and the organizers. This year's French Open saw a 9.5% increase in the prize pool, bringing it to 61.7 million euros, or $72.19 million. However, players argue that this amount still falls short of what they believe they deserve.

Discontent Among Top Players

Other prominent players, including Aryna Sabalenka and defending French Open champion Coco Gauff, have echoed similar concerns. They pointed out that the percentage of the tournament's revenue allocated to players has decreased from 15.5% in 2024 to an estimated 14.9% in 2026. This decline has sparked outrage among the tennis community.

Sabalenka and Gauff have both indicated that a boycott could be a possibility if the situation does not improve. Sabalenka said, "I think at some point we will boycott [the tournament], yeah. I feel like that's going to be the only way to fight for our rights."

The Broader Implications

The issue is not just about the top-ranked players but also about the broader community of tennis professionals. Gauff emphasized that the push for better compensation is not solely for herself or other high-profile athletes but for all players, especially those ranked lower.

"We're making money off court," she said. "When you look at the [players ranked] 50 to 100, 50 to 200, how much money each Slam makes, it's kind of unfortunate where the 200 best tennis players are living paycheck to paycheck."

Support from Tennis Legends

Novak Djokovic has publicly supported Sabalenka's stance, praising her leadership in addressing the issue. He stated, "I'm glad that there is willingness from the leaders of our sport, like Sabalenka, to really step up and really understand the dynamics of how the tennis politics works and understand the nuances and really what needs to be done not only for her benefit and well-being, but for everyone."

Djokovic added, "That's true leadership for me and I think she needs to maintain that."

A Longstanding Dispute

The dispute has been ongoing for some time. Last year, top-10 ranked men and women players sent a letter to the Grand Slam organizers requesting a larger share of the revenue. Despite these efforts, Sinner noted that progress has been slow.

"It's not nice that after one year we are not even close to conclusion of what we would like to have," he said. "So I do understand players talking about boycott 'cause it's somewhere we also need to start. Now it's been a very long time with this. Then we see in the future."

As the French Open approaches, the pressure on organizers to address these concerns is mounting. With players like Sinner, Sabalenka, and Gauff leading the charge, the tennis world is watching closely to see how this issue will unfold.