Top Players Challenge Roland Garros Prize Structure Amid Revenue Dispute

Paris— Leading tennis players including Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff have criticized prize money levels at Roland Garros, saying their share of tournament revenue is declining despite rising earnings.

In a joint statement issued on Monday, the players expressed “deep disappointment” with the financial structure of the clay-court Grand Slam, which begins later this month in Paris, and raised broader concerns about governance, representation and player welfare.

Tournament organizers last month announced a roughly 10 percent increase in total prize money to €61.7 million ($72.1 million), up €5.3 million from the previous year. However, the players said their share of total revenue had fallen from 15.5 percent in 2024 to a projected 14.9 percent in 2026.

They added that while French Open revenue reached €395 million in 2025, a 14 percent increase year-on-year, prize money rose by only 5.4 percent, reducing players’ share to 14.3 percent. With revenues expected to exceed €400 million this year, they said the proportion allocated to players would remain below 15 percent, well short of the 22 percent they have sought.

The group also renewed calls for greater involvement in decision-making and improvements in long-term welfare provisions, including health and pension frameworks. They said earlier proposals submitted to Grand Slam organizers had not received a response.

Prize allocations for this year’s tournament include €2.8 million for men’s and women’s singles champions and €1.4 million for runners-up, with lower rounds and doubles events receiving proportionate distributions.Organizers of Roland Garros did not immediately comment on the players’ statement.