French Open players are planning a media protest over prize-money distribution, with several top stars expected to limit their press interactions during Roland Garros. According to French newspaper L’Equipe, players taking part in Friday’s traditional pre-tournament media day intend to keep their sessions to around 15 minutes as part of a coordinated ‘work-to-rule’ protest.
The protest comes amid growing frustration among leading players over what they believe is an unfair share of Grand Slam revenues. A group featuring some of the biggest names in tennis, including Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka, Jannik Sinner, and Coco Gauff, has been pushing Grand Slam organisers for better compensation and improved player welfare.
Players are unhappy because Roland Garros allegedly reduced the players’ share of tournament revenue to around 14.3 percent, significantly lower than the nearly 22 percent distributed at ATP and WTA combined events.
The French Open recently announced a 9.5 percent increase in total prize money for the 2026 edition, taking the overall purse to €61.7 million. However, players argue that tournament revenues have risen at a much faster rate than the increase in prize money.
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“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%, far short of the 22% that players have requested to bring the Grand Slams into line with the ATP and WTA Combined 1000 events,” the players said.
The planned protest is not expected to involve a full boycott, but players reportedly intend to minimise additional interviews with major broadcasters. Reports suggest they have studied tournament regulations carefully to avoid breaching mandatory media obligations or facing fines.
WHAT DID ROLAND GARROS SAY?
The French Tennis Federation (FFT), which organises Roland Garros, expressed disappointment over the proposed action and said it regretted any initiative that could affect media, broadcasters and fans. The FFT also confirmed that discussions with player representatives are scheduled during the tournament.
“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,” the FFT told Associated Press.
The Australian Open increased player compensation by 16 percent this year, while the US Open raised its prize pool by 20 percent in 2025. At Roland Garros, the singles champions will earn 2.8 million euros each this year, which is 250,000 euros more than the prize money awarded in 2025.
The French Open main draw begins on May 24, with the finals scheduled for June 7. Coco Gauff is the defending champion in women’s singles, while Carlos Alcaraz will defend his men’s singles title at Roland Garros.
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