Sabalenka and Gauff Raise Grand Slam Boycott Threat Over Revenue Share

Aryna Sabalenka didn’t mince words. “Without us there wouldn’t be a tournament. And there wouldn’t be that entertainment.”

The world No. 1 is done being polite about prize money. Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, and 17 other top players — Sinner and Alcaraz among them — have sent letters to the Grand Slams demanding a bigger cut. They currently receive around 15 percent of projected tournament revenue. They want 22 percent by 2030. NFL, NBA, and MLB players take home roughly 50 percent of league revenue. The comparison is not lost on anyone.

Gauff said she could “100% see” a boycott if the players reached collective agreement. Then she made the real point: “The 200 best tennis players are living paycheck to paycheck.” The players fighting for wildcards and qualifying spots aren’t getting rich from French Open crowds.

The French Open 2026 prize pool is $72.3 million. Six and a half million more than last year. Still not enough, the players say.

Iga Świątek called a boycott “a bit extreme.” The Grand Slams haven’t commented. The conversation isn’t going away.