Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner have joined 20 tennis stars in criticism of prize money and players’ welfare at the French Open.
Last May, the trio, joined by Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Iga Swiatek, sent a letter to the four Grand Slam tournaments, demanding a larger share of the revenue and more influence.
The slams have shown some willingness to engage and made encouraging signs, but player frustration has increased.
The same 20 players, including most of the top 10 on the ATP and WTA Tours, have now issued a statement.
The tennis stars have hit out at the French Open’s prize pool and player welfare
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The French Open organisers announced earlier this month that the total prize money increased by 9.5 per cent year-on-year, with each singles champion receiving €2.8million (£2.4million).
Players have been left unsatisfied by the rise, with it falling well short of their 22 per cent target.
It is significantly less than the 20 per cent increase seen at last year’s US Open and nearly 16 per cent at the Australian Open.
The tennis stars also complained about the lack of investment in players’ welfare, with no progress on a decision.
Aryna Sabalenka was also part of the tennis players’ complaints
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The statement from the 20 players read: “As Roland Garros looks to post record revenues, players are therefore receiving a declining share of the value they help create.
“More critically, the announcement does nothing to address the structural issues that players have consistently and reasonably raised over the past year.
“There has been no engagement on player welfare and no progress towards establishing a formal mechanism for player consultation within grand slam decision-making.”
Alcaraz won the men’s French Open in 2025
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It continued: “While other major international sports are modernising governance, aligning stakeholders and building long-term value, the grand slams remain resistant to change.
“The absence of player consultation and the continued lack of investment in player welfare reflect a system that does not adequately represent the interests of those who are central to the sport’s success.”
The statement concludes by saying the players “will continue to advocate for constructive dialogue and for reforms that ensure the long-term health and integrity of professional tennis”.
Jannik Sinner made history yesterday after his Madrid Open win
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The message comes after Sinner delivered a masterclass at the Caja Magica, dismantling Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2 in under an hour to claim the Madrid Open title yesterday.
The Italian world number one required merely 58 minutes to dispatch the second seed, establishing himself as the first player in history to capture five successive Masters 1000 trophies.
Sinner also became the inaugural player since the series began in 1990 to secure the opening four Masters 1000 titles of a single season.
Conceding just three games throughout, this represented Sinner’s most emphatic triumph of the fortnight.
