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09/13 23:06 CDT Tennis players seeking more prize money say they won't go
public with their protests anymore
Tennis players seeking more prize money say they won't go public with their
protests anymore
By ANDREW DAMPF
AP Sports Writer
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.
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See AP's full tennis coverage here
