Top tennis players slam Roland Garros prize money, citing a shrinking share of tournament revenue – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
Paris – Leading figures in professional tennis, including Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff, voiced strong dissatisfaction with the prize money at Roland Garros. The group highlighted a shrinking portion of tournament revenue allocated to players despite substantial financial growth. Organizers recently boosted the total purse by 10 percent to 61.7 million euros, yet the players argued this falls short of their contributions to the event’s success. The clay-court major begins on May 24 in western Paris.
Players Point to Revenue Disparities
The athletes issued a joint statement on Monday, emphasizing that their share of Roland Garros revenue had dropped from 15.5 percent in 2024 to a projected 14.9 percent in 2026. They noted that tournament officials reported 395 million euros in revenue for 2025, marking a 14 percent increase from the prior year. However, prize money for that edition rose by only 5.4 percent, pulling the players’ portion down to 14.3 percent.
With revenues expected to exceed 400 million euros this year, the group projected the prize money percentage would remain below 15 percent. They contrasted this with their request for 22 percent, a level aligned with ATP and WTA Combined 1000 events. French Open officials had no immediate comment on the criticism.
Prize Money Breakdown for 2026
Singles champions in both men’s and women’s draws stand to earn 2.8 million euros each, while runners-up receive 1.4 million euros. Semifinalists pocket 750,000 euros, and players losing in the first round get 87,000 euros. The overall pot increased by 5.3 million euros from the previous year.
| Category | Prize Amount (euros) |
|---|---|
| Singles Champion | 2,800,000 |
| Singles Runner-up | 1,400,000 |
| Semifinalist | 750,000 |
| First Round Loser | 87,000 |
| Men’s/Women’s Doubles Winners | 600,000 |
| Mixed Doubles Champions | 122,000 |
This structure ensures top performers capture the largest shares, but the players maintained that the totals do not reflect the event’s booming business.
Beyond Money: Calls for Governance Reform
The statement extended criticism to broader issues, including insufficient player representation in decision-making. The group of 20 players, who signed a similar letter to Grand Slam leaders last year, sought responses on proposals for pensions and long-term health support. They described a lack of progress on these fronts.
Organizers have yet to address these welfare concerns, according to the athletes. The players accused the Grand Slams of resisting modernization seen in other sports, where stakeholders align more closely and invest in participants’ futures. This unified stance underscores their push for a more equitable system.
- 2024: 15.5%
- 2025: 14.3%
- 2026 (projected): 14.9%
Players seek 22% to match top ATP/WTA events.
Looking Ahead to Tournament Play
The dispute arrives as Roland Garros prepares for its annual spotlight. Last year’s letter marked an early step in this campaign, and the players expressed determination to continue advocating for change. Their message frames the Grand Slams as outliers in global sports governance.
With the main draw starting soon, attention will shift to the courts, but the financial and structural debate lingers. Resolution could influence future negotiations across the sport’s premier events. For more tennis coverage, see the AP tennis hub.
