French Open Organizers Meet With Players After Media Protest

Following a coordinated media protest from tennis’ top players ahead of the French Open, the French Tennis Federation met with player representatives Friday to discuss, according to Agence France-Presse.

The FFT also plans to meet directly with some of the players involved in the coordinated “work-to-rule” protest executed Friday. More than a dozen tennis stars—including World No. 1s Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner—limited their media day availability to just 15 minutes and fulfilled only their mandatory media requirements.

The primary cause for player protests has been revenue sharing. Players are lobbying to receive 22% of revenue at the Grand Slams by 2030. The prize pool at Roland-Garros is 15% of projected revenue, and it’s down from 15.5% last year. 

Last year, the top players sent top two separate letters to tournament organizers requesting a larger revenue share alongside additional player welfare improvements, including a pension and maternity benefits. But changes have yet to be seen, and players have become increasingly restless, with some even threatening to boycott tournaments. 

Sinner said last week that he feels a lack of “respect” from the Grand Slam organizers: “When we have to wait for over a year for just a small response, having the best ten players, it’s not nice.” 

Organizers for Wimbledon and the US Open also reportedly plan to meet with player representatives at Roland-Garros, which runs until June 7, but there is no meeting scheduled with Australian Open organizers.

In a statement to Front Office Sports, a spokesperson for All England Lawn Tennis Club, the Wimbledon organizer, said:

“Our position continues to be that we are always open to having constructive discussions. We have been in regular dialogue with the players and their representatives to hear their feedback and we look forward to continuing those conversations at Roland-Garros.”

The FFT, USTA, and Tennis Australia did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

Update on PTPA Credential Battle

Separate from the protests—but over the same issues—is the ongoing lawsuit from the Professional Tennis Players Association. The PTPA is a quasi-union claiming that the Slams, alongside other professional tennis organizers, are acting as a “cartel” to limit player prize money and welfare benefits. 

The PTPA was denied credentials for the French Open and Wimbledon, and filed a motion in federal court against the organizers, requesting to reverse the ruling. However, a judge ruled Friday in favor of the tennis organizers. 

The PTPA noted in a tweet Friday that the judge cautioned the Grand Slam organizers that it “may consider their undisputedly retaliatory conduct in assessing any similar motions in the future.”