French Open 2026: Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff and Others Back Prize Money Protest

Some of tennis' biggest stars are set to stage a media protest at the French Open as tensions between players and the four Grand Slam tournaments continue to escalate over prize money and revenue sharing.

According to a report by The Guardian, leading players are preparing a "work-to-rule" action during Roland Garros, with plans to limit media commitments while remaining within tournament regulations.

What is the planned protest at the French Open?

Players selected for Friday's opening French Open press conferences are expected to leave after 15 minutes, a symbolic reference to the approximately 15% share of tournament revenues currently allocated to player prize money.

In addition, many players are reportedly planning to avoid extra interviews with official broadcast partners beyond their mandatory media obligations.

The move is designed to highlight growing frustration among players, who believe they are not receiving a fair share of the revenue generated by Grand Slam events.

Why are players unhappy at the French Open?

The dispute centres on the percentage of tournament income distributed as prize money.

The French Open announced a record prize fund of €61.7 million for 2026, representing a 9.5% increase from last year. Singles champions will receive €2.8 million each.

However, players argue that tournament revenues have grown at a much faster rate than prize money.

According to the report, Roland Garros generated €395 million in revenue last year, a 14% increase year-on-year, while prize money rose by only 5.4%. As a result, players received approximately 14.3% of tournament revenue.

The leading players are pushing for Grand Slam events to move closer to the 22% revenue share distributed on the ATP and WTA Tours.

Which players are involved?

The dispute reportedly involves many of the sport's biggest names, including:

• Novak Djokovic
• Jannik Sinner
• Aryna Sabalenka
• Coco Gauff

Sabalenka and Gauff recently suggested that players could even consider more drastic action in the future, including potential boycotts of Grand Slam events.

Not all players have publicly supported that idea, however. Iga Swiatek and Emma Raducanu have reportedly distanced themselves from strike discussions.

What else are players demanding at the French Open?

Prize money is not the only issue.

Players have also raised concerns about:

• Improved welfare and support systems
• Better pension provisions after retirement
• Greater influence over tournament scheduling and calendar decisions
• Increased involvement in key decisions affecting the sport

The negotiations are being advised by former ATP player and ex-WTA chief executive Larry Scott, who is expected to hold discussions with French tennis officials during the tournament.

Why is Wimbledon becoming a major focus?

Attention is already turning toward Wimbledon Championships, where prize money for the 2026 tournament will be announced in June.

Players are reportedly frustrated that Wimbledon revenues have grown dramatically over the past decade while their share of overall income has declined.

The issue has become even more sensitive because the All England Club is pursuing an expansion project that could significantly increase daily attendance and revenue in future years.

Could this affect the French Open?

At present, the planned action is not expected to disrupt matches or the tournament schedule.

Instead, players appear intent on using media obligations as a way to highlight their concerns while complying with existing tournament rules and avoiding fines.

The protest nevertheless represents one of the strongest collective demonstrations by elite players in recent years and signals that negotiations with the Grand Slam tournaments remain far from resolved.