Players at the French Open are planning to reduce their media appearances ahead of the start of the Grand Slam as part of their protest over their share of tournament revenue.
A group of players has already targeted the clay-court major for reducing the players’ share of revenue to an alleged 14.3 per cent, compared with the 22 per cent they have sought from the four Grand Slam tournaments to bring them in line with combined ATP and WTA 1000-level events.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 4 Coco Gauff were among the leading players who threatened a boycott of the Slams earlier this month if compensation is not increased.
French newspaper L’Equipe reported on Wednesday that many players competing at Roland Garros, which begins on Sunday, are planning to limit their interactions with reporters to 15 minutes during Friday’s traditional pre-tournament media day.
The French Tennis Federation (FFT), which organises the French Open, said in a statement to The Associated Press that it regretted the players’ initiative, saying it “penalises all stakeholders involved in the tournament: the media, broadcasters, federation staff and the entire tennis community that enthusiastically follows each edition of Roland Garros”.
Sabalenka and fellow World No. 1 Jannik Sinner were among the leading players, most of them ranked in the top 10, who earlier this month issued a statement expressing “deep disappointment” over French Open prize money.
The players are also seeking better representation, improved health options and pensions from the four Grand Slam tournaments: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
Roland Garros organisers announced last month that overall prize money would increase by about 10 per cent to 61.7 million euros ($72.1 million), up 5.3 million euros from last year. However, the players said “the underlying figures tell a very different story”, claiming they would receive a smaller share of tournament revenue.
The FFT said it would continue to maintain open dialogue and added that it had proposed a meeting with the players and their representatives on Friday.
“The FFT is ready for direct and constructive discussions on governance issues, with the aim of giving players a greater role in decision-making, contributing to players’ social protection, and evolving the distribution of value, and it put forward several proposals in this direction during the meeting,” it said.
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The players claim their share of Roland Garros revenue has declined from 15.5 per cent in 2024 to a projected 14.9 per cent in 2026. They said the event generated 395 million euros in 2025, a 14 per cent year-on-year increase, but prize money rose by only 5.4 per cent, reducing the players’ share of revenue to 14.3 per cent.
“With estimated revenues of over 400 million euros for this year’s tournament, prize money as a percentage of revenue will likely still be less than 15 per cent, far short of the 22 per cent that players have requested to bring the Grand Slams into line with the ATP and WTA Combined 1000 events,” the players said.
The Australian Open increased player compensation by 16 per cent this year, while the U.S. Open prize money rose by 20 per cent last year.
The singles champions at Roland Garros will each receive 2.8 million euros, an increase of 250,000 euros compared with 2025.
“Beyond the prize money, a Grand Slam tournament like Roland Garros offers players exceptional exposure, generating indirect income through sponsorships, partnerships, exhibitions and appearance fees,” the FFT said.
“This year, the French Tennis Federation also chose to direct a significant portion of these increases towards players eliminated in the early rounds of the main draw and qualifying rounds, with increases of more than 11 per cent, in order to better support those who depend most on tournament earnings to finance their season.”
Published on May 20, 2026