Tennis Stars Unite Top Players Slam French Open Over ‘Unfair’ Revenue Share

Conflict has intensified between the organizers of the French Open and top-tier tennis players. For a long time, tennis stars have been expressing their dissatisfaction, but now it has taken a new form. On the eve of the upcoming French Open, a group of 20 top players, led by World No. 1 Iga Świątek and Aryna Sabalenka, have formed a new association.
The players have publicly criticized the tournament organizers. Supporting Sabalenka, other players like Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Elena Rybakina have expressed their disappointment with the French Open’s financial structure. “We are not doing this to stop the tournament from being organized,” the players stated. “We just want a fair share of the revenue we generate. We cannot be denied our rights.”
The main reason for this association is the declining share of income the players receive compared to the total revenue generated by the tournament. Although the French Open prize pool increased by 9.1% this year to a total of 53.5 million Euros, the players argue this is insufficient.
The players have pointed out that while the tournament’s total revenue has skyrocketed, the percentage given to players has remained stagnant, fluctuating between only 12% to 16%. In comparison, other Grand Slams like the US Open and Australian Open increased their player payouts by 14% to 18% in 2025. The formation of this group of 20 stars has signaled a period of instability and potential revolution in the world of professional tennis, as players demand a seat at the table regarding financial decisions.