Ahead of her participation in Rome, world #1 Aryna Sabalenka has admitted that she would be willing to boycott the four Majors, starting with the French Open later this month, if player reforms are not improved.
In a shocking statement, last year’s French Open runner-up suggested that players may need to withdraw from the biggest tournaments if the concerns raised by the player movement are not addressed.
“I feel like that’s going to be the only way to kind of, like, fight for our rights… Let’s see how far we can get. If it’s going to take players for boycott. I feel like nowadays, we girls can easily get together and go for this because some of the things I feel like it’s really unfair to the players. I think at some point it’s going to get to this.”
Aryna Sabalenka Threatens French Open Boycott
Player Reform Movement Gains Momentum
The tennis world got its first real glimpse of players advocating for better conditions last year, when they pushed for reforms in areas such as insurance, player health and welfare, and prize money. A key demand was for the four Slams to increase the percentage of revenue allocated to players, bringing it more in line with joint ATP and WTA Masters events such as Rome and Indian Wells.
The movement received widespread backing from the sport’s elite. A reported 19 of the combined top 20 players across both tours initially supported the initiative, including Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Coco Gauff. Many of those players also raised the issue in press conferences, with even the usually reserved Sinner criticizing the Majors last year over what he described as “unacceptable silence on player welfare.”
Although the lone absentee from that list, Elena Rybakina, has still not formally backed the movement, she has agreed that if other players boycott the Majors, she would be willing to do the same.
French Open Prize Money Row Sparks Player Backlash
In the latest installment of the player power campaign, players have expressed their disappointment over the recently announced French Open prize money changes. In a statement issued directly to LWOT, the players raised serious concerns that, despite their efforts in 2025, the revenue share at the French Open has actually declined rather than increased.
While the French Open announced that its total prize pool has increased by nearly 10% compared to 2025, that figure is somewhat misleading. The tournament’s overall revenue has reportedly risen by around 14% over the same period, meaning the players’ share has effectively decreased. In percentage terms, the player prize pool is projected to drop from 15.5% of total revenue in 2024 to approximately 14.9% in 2026. This is still far from the 22% suggested by the players to the four Majors last year.
There was also no indication of steps being taken to improve player benefits or welfare. Additionally, players noted that there was no communication with them before the announcement.
Growing Concerns Over Player Welfare
While prize money remains a major talking point, the movement goes far beyond financial concerns. Players have emphasized the need for stronger safeguards around their careers and long-term well-being.
With injuries on the rise across the tour, concerns have only intensified. Even one of the sport’s leading figures, Carlos Alcaraz, is currently sidelined, further highlighting the physical demands of the modern game. It remains to be seen whether the four Majors will take meaningful steps to address these concerns, either by agreeing to the players’ demands or reaching a compromise.
Reports suggest that discussions last year failed to deliver the expected outcomes. Now, with Sabalenka potentially leading the charge, pressure on the Slams is higher than ever. The coming months could prove decisive in shaping the future relationship between players and the sport’s biggest tournaments.
Main photo credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images
