Sinner demands more ‘respect’ as French Open | Sports News

Men’s World No. 1 Jannik Sinner believes that tennis gamers deserve more “respect” after agreeing with Aryna Sabalenka’s complaints over prize money at Grand Slam competitions.

Last yr, Sinner and Sabalenka had been amongst a group of high tennis gamers who despatched a letter to the 4 Grand Slam tournaments to push for a higher share of revenues. Players are pushing for a 22 % income share by 2030, and Sabalenka has threatened a boycott.

Sinner and Sabalenka have been supported by Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Carlos Alcaraz, amongst others, and prize money has elevated. However, the upcoming French Open is definitely offering gamers a decrease proportion regardless of raising the prize purse, sparking additional outrage.

French Open organizers introduced that prize money for the 2026 Grand Slam has elevated by round 10 %, rising from $6.2 million final yr to $72.1 million. However, the gamers’ income share has declined from 15.5 % in 2024 to a projected 14.9 % in 2026.

The identical group of gamers campaigning issued a assertion concerning the decrease proportion, and Sabalenka warned that gamers might stop competing if demands aren’t met. “Without us, there wouldn’t be a tournament, and there wouldn’t be that entertainment,” she mentioned on Tuesday.

“I feel like definitely we deserve to be paid more percentage. I think at some point we will boycott it. I feel like that’s going to be the only way to fight for our rights.”

Players are additionally campaigning for higher illustration, health choices, and pensions from the 4 Grand Slam tournaments. For Sinner, it is not a purely financial motive, as he thinks that gamers must be proven more respect and consideration.

“First of all, I think the Grand Slams, they are the best and the most important tournaments we have in our schedule,” Sinner mentioned on Thursday. “I do believe that starting also back in the days, the further or past generations we had. I can only talk about the tour since I know. It’s going back 15-plus years.

“Having the victory, not solely them, additionally from the ladies’s aspect, unbelievable rivalries. Now it is our technology and likewise for the longer term technology. It’s more about respect, you realize? Because I believe we give a lot more than what we’re getting back.

“It’s not only for the top players; it’s for all of us players. Again, from men’s and women’s side, we are very, very equal. I think the top-10 men, top-10 women, we wrote a letter. It’s not nice that after one year we are not even close to conclusion of what we would like to have.

“Talking in different sports activities, if the highest athletes, they ship important letters, I actually consider that within 48 hours, you haven’t solely a response however you even have a assembly with this type of factor, so…” Sinner then said he will wait to see what changes this season before making a drastic decision.

“Of course, we speak about money. The most important is respect, and we simply do not feel it. I believe we gamers, we’re a bit disenchanted additionally of the result of Roland Garros, for instance. So let’s examine what’s coming.

“I think in the next couple of weeks, we [will] know also the prize money we’re going to have in Wimbledon. We truly hope that it’s going to be better. Then, of course, US Open. So I do understand players talking about boycott, because it’s somewhere we also need to start. Now it has been a very long time with this. Then we see in the future.”