World number one Aryna Sabalenka reduced her media interaction time at the 2026 French Open as part of a coordinated protest by players demanding a larger share of Grand Slam revenues.
The Belarusian star limited her media duties to 15 minutes during Friday’s pre-tournament media day. The symbolic action highlighted the current 15% revenue share allocated as prize money by Roland Garros, which players believe is insufficient.
The protest has become one of the biggest talking points ahead of the clay-court Grand Slam, with several leading players joining the movement.
Top Players Back French Open Protest Movement
Men’s world number one Jannik Sinner and four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek also followed the ‘work-to-rule’ protest by shortening their media obligations.
Sabalenka, who has emerged as one of the leading voices in the dispute, explained that the action was aimed at sending a strong message to tournament organisers.
“We just wanted to make our point and we are united – 15 minutes is better than zero,” Sabalenka said during her press conference.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic supported the players’ concerns despite not directly participating in the protest. The 24-time Grand Slam winner once again spoke about the need for better financial security and player rights across professional tennis.
French Open Players Demand Bigger Revenue Share
The central issue in the ongoing disagreement revolves around prize money distribution at Grand Slam tournaments.
Players are reportedly seeking 22% of tournament revenues to be allocated as prize money by 2030. Currently, the French Open offers around 15%, which several players believe does not properly reflect their contribution to the sport’s commercial success.
Apart from financial concerns, players are also demanding better welfare support, including healthcare, pensions, maternity benefits, and improved scheduling to reduce late-night matches and exhausting tournament calendars.
American star Coco Gauff praised the unity shown by players during the protest, while Taylor Fritz claimed players felt “ignored” in negotiations with Grand Slam authorities.
French Open Organisers Hope To Resolve Dispute
French Open tournament director Amelie Mauresmo admitted she was disappointed by the protest but remained hopeful that discussions would lead to a solution.
Mauresmo and French Tennis Federation president Gilles Moretton are scheduled to meet former WTA chairman Larry Scott, who is representing players in negotiations.
Although some players have hinted that a boycott could eventually happen, most have stopped short of making direct threats. Fritz stated that stronger action would only be considered if players continued to feel unheard.
The dispute has now added another layer of drama to the 2026 French Open, with growing attention on how Grand Slam organisers respond to player demands over the coming months.
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