Story perspectives

French Open Boosts Prize Money 9.5% After Player Push

5/5/2026

Summary

Players Demand Pay

Players including Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner issued a statement demanding higher prize money before the French Open begins on May 30, 2026.
Tournament announced a 9.5% prize-money increase to €61.7 million, making the singles champion prize about $3.2 million.
Players noted 2025 revenue rose 14% to €395 million while their share would drop to 14.9% in 2026.
Federation said the rise targets qualifying players, with qualifying prize money up 12.9% and main-draw up 10.1%.

Summary

Players Demand Reform

The communications firm clarified that Novak Djokovic did not sign the new player statement.
The player group sent a letter to the four Grand Slam heads a year ago demanding higher prize money and more governance say.
Player compensation rose 16 percent at the Australian Open and 20 percent at the U.S. Open last year, prompting players to argue that Grand Slam governance lags behind other major sports.

History

Historical Context

In May 1973 the International Lawn Tennis Federation reduced Nikola Pilic’s suspension to one month, prompting the newly formed Association of Tennis Professionals to vote a boycott of Wimbledon. Eighty-one players, including champion Stan Smith, withdrew, leaving only four of the original sixteen seeds. The stand-off forced the ATP to win formal player representation, a precedent echoed in today’s prize-money protests.

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Players Demand Pay

Players including Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner issued a statement demanding higher prize money before the French Open begins on May 30, 2026.
Tournament announced a 9.5% prize-money increase to €61.7 million, making the singles champion prize about $3.2 million.
Players noted 2025 revenue rose 14% to €395 million while their share would drop to 14.9% in 2026.
Federation said the rise targets qualifying players, with qualifying prize money up 12.9% and main-draw up 10.1%.

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