TENNIS: Players do not feel respected, Sinner says amid French Open boycott call

World number one Jannik Sinner has said that players may boycott the French Open if their prize money is not increased, citing a lack of respect.

Sinner’s comments come after fellow top-ranked players Aryna Sabalenka and defending Roland Garros champion Coco Gauff voiced support for the potential boycott on Tuesday. They highlighted that players are expected to receive less than 15% of tournament revenue, far below the 22% share they had requested.

The dispute intensified following the tournament organizers’ announcement of a 9.5% increase in prize money to 61.7 million euros ($72.19 million). Players, however, noted that their share of tournament revenue has declined from 15.5% in 2024 to a projected 14.9% in 2026.

"It's more about respect, you know? Because I think we give much more than what we are getting back. It's not only for the top players, it's for all of us," Sinner told reporters ahead of the Italian Open in Rome. "Of course, we talk about money. The most important is respect, and we just don't feel it."

Sinner also stressed that the issue remains unresolved, despite top-10 ranked men and women sending a letter to Grand Slam organizers last year requesting a larger share of the revenue. "It's not nice that after one year we are not even close to the conclusion of what we would like to have," he said. "So I do understand players talking about boycott 'cause it's somewhere we also need to start. Now it's been a very long time with this. Then we see in the future."

Djokovic Salutes Sabalenka’s Leadership

Novak Djokovic also expressed support for Sabalenka, praising her leadership in addressing players' concerns.

"I'm glad that there is willingness from the leaders of our sport, like Sabalenka, to really step up and really understand the dynamics of how the tennis politics works…not only for her benefit and well-being, but for everyone," Djokovic said. "That's true leadership for me and I think she needs to maintain that. I salute that."

Djokovic, a founder of the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), said the dispute highlights the need for reform in professional tennis.

-Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru/Reuters