Top 20 players including Djokovic, Sinner, and Sabalenka question French Open prize money

(Getty/Ben Whitely)

Top 20 players from the men's and women's tours, including Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka, and Coco Gauff, have penned a joint letter expressing their dissatisfaction with the upcoming French Open's tournament prize money.

In March last year, the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) filed a 163-page lawsuit against the top tennis governing bodies, accusing the ATP and WTA of acting as a "cartel" that tries to gain "monopolistic control".

Six months later, the PTPA included the four Grand Slams in the lawsuit, with the Australian Open breaking away after the PTPA reached a settlement agreement with Tennis Australia.

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Last month, the French Open announced a 9.5 per cent increase in prize money (now €61.7 million; A$100.44 million), with the men's and women's singles champions set to earn a staggering €2.8 million (A$4.56 million).

Despite prize money increasing nearly 10 per cent for the second major of the year, the world's top players are unhappy, as they also seek better welfare and pension guarantees.

"Roland-Garros generated €395m in revenue in 2025, a 14 per cent year-on-year increase, yet prize money rose by only 5.4 per cent, reducing players' share of revenue to 14.3 per cent," they said in a statement.

"With estimated revenues of more than €400m 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 tours. 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.

"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 players also stated that they "will continue to advocate for constructive dialogue and for reforms that ensure the long-term health and integrity of professional tennis."

The Guardian reports that players such as Ben Shelton and Jessica Pegula are expected to voice concerns about the prize money in their upcoming press conferences at the Italian Open in Rome, which commences this week.

Roland-Garros qualifying commences on May 18, with the main draw beginning six days later.

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