Story perspectives

Sinner Leads French Open Players' Walkout Over Prize Money

5/21/2026

Summary

Sinner Leads Protest

On May 21, twenty players including world No. 1 Jannik Sinner will walk out of French Open press conferences to protest prize-money distribution.
Players say they receive only 15 percent of tournament revenue and demand 22 percent by 2030.
The French Open has allocated £52.6 million for competitors, £2.4 million for singles champions, prompting athletes to leave press conferences after 15 minutes in a work-to-rule protest led by Sinner, Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka.

Summary

Roland Garros Streams

The singles ceremony streams on Roland Garros YouTube Thursday 21 May 14:00 local (13:00 BST).
The tournament runs from Sunday 24 May, with women’s final 6 June and men’s final 7 June.
Broadcast partners carry the Open, including France TV, Prime Video and Eurosport in Europe, TNT Sports, Max and Tru TV in the U.S., RDS and TSN in Canada, ESPN in Latin America and Brazil, and BeinSport in the Middle East, North-Africa and Asia.

History

Historical Context

In May 1973 the Yugoslav Tennis Federation suspended Nikola Pilic, and the International Lawn Tennis Federation upheld the ban, prompting the newly formed ATP to vote a boycott. The protest saw 81 of the 128 entrants, including 13 of the 16 seeds and reigning champion Stan Smith, withdrew from Wimbledon. That collective action set a precedent for player-led demands, echoed by the 2024 French Open walkout seeking a revenue share.

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Sinner Leads Protest

On May 21, twenty players including world No. 1 Jannik Sinner will walk out of French Open press conferences to protest prize-money distribution.
Players say they receive only 15 percent of tournament revenue and demand 22 percent by 2030.
The French Open has allocated £52.6 million for competitors, £2.4 million for singles champions, prompting athletes to leave press conferences after 15 minutes in a work-to-rule protest led by Sinner, Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka.

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