A number of well-known tennis players will be staging a media protest at the French Open over the share of Grand Slam prize money they receive and other reforms they want to see enacted.
Earlier this year, several top ATP and WTA players, including Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff, sent a letter expressing “deep disappointment” in the upcoming French Open’s prize money pool. They claimed their pay did not reflect the increase in the tournament’s projected revenue and threatened to boycott the Grand Slam tournament. The French Open allegedly reduced the players’ revenue share to 14.3%, down as opposed to 22% at regular ATP and WTA events.
However, rather than go the nuclear route with an all-out boycott, several top tennis stars will instead stage a “media boycott.” This will include, according to Bounces, walking out of their pre-tournament news conferences early and giving only a five-minute video interview to a host broadcaster.
Additionally, the tennis players will decline media day interviews with French Open media and the tournament’s main rights holders, TNT Sports and Eurosport. This aspect of the protest, along with the time limit, will only last for one day, though.
The French Tennis Federation responds to the protest
“We regret the players’ decision, which impacts all of the tournament’s stakeholders: the media, broadcasters, the FFT and the entire tennis community, all of whom follow each edition of Roland-Garros with great enthusiasm,” a French Tennis Federation (FFT) spokesperson stated to The Athletic in a text message.
“The FFT recognises the importance of the players’ contribution to the tournament’s success, and wishes to maintain close ties with them. In early May, it proposed a meeting that will take place on Friday 22 May with some of their representatives.
“The FFT is ready to engage in direct and constructive dialogue on governance issues, with a view to giving players a greater say in decision-making, contributing to players’ welfare and evolutions in the value-sharing model.”
French Open organizers will make no changes to prize money this year
On Thursday, French Open director Amelie Mauresmo stated that there was no chance the prize money would change this year.
“No, we are not going to change anything. We are going to initiate discussions, and that is what everyone wants,” ESPN reports she replied when asked about the possibility.
She added, “I’m not going to tell you that everything will be resolved with the snap of a finger. But the discussions will continue, probably after the tournament.”