Full Breakdown
Wimbledon Players Expand Prize Money Protest Ahead of Championships
6/25/2026, 12:59:35 AM
Players Expand Wimbledon Prize Money Protest
Leading tennis players, including world-number-one Aryna Sabalenka, Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, will intensify their protest at Wimbledon by limiting pre-tournament media sessions to 15 minutes and restricting post-match press conferences to the same duration throughout the first week; Novak Djokovic has chosen not to participate. The 15-minute cap is intended to symbolize the roughly 15 % of tournament revenue that players say currently funds prize money.
Background & Context
The protest follows a “work-to-rule” at the French Open, where players also limited press time. Wimbledon’s 20 % prize-money increase was hailed as a step forward, but players say the payout still reflects only about 15 % of total revenue.
Data & Statistics
The 2024 Wimbledon prize fund is £64.2 million, a 20 % rise and the tournament’s largest increase. Singles champions earn £3.6 million; first-round losers £80,000. By contrast, the French Open raised prize money 9.5 %. Players say prize money should represent 16 % of revenue, not the current roughly 15 %.
Official Statements & Responses
The AELTC called the protest “surprised and disappointed,” citing its investment in players, facilities and a three-year, hundreds-of-millions-pound upgrade programme. Players said the 20 % increase is a “meaningful statement of intent” but falls short of a 16 % revenue share and does not address benefit-pool contributions or a player council. The AELTC says it offered talks on a player council at the end of 2023, which the players rejected.
Criticism & Opposition
Player representatives argue that a single revenue-percentage metric ignores costs and sustainability, demanding a 16 % share, benefit-pool contributions and a formal governance role. Novak Djokovic’s decision not to join underscores differing views among top players.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Players claim they have received no “substantive response” on benefit-pool contributions, whereas the AELTC says it has engaged in dialogue. The club has not quantified the “roughly 15 %” revenue share cited by players, and details of the proposed player council are absent.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Wimbledon puts the players at the heart of all our decisions and we invest significantly in them every year,” — All England Club (AELTC)
- “We don't look at percentages, we don't actually believe that is the right metric,” — Deborah Jevans, AELTC chair
- “We have expenses – we have spoken about infrastructure and investment in grass court tennis.” — Deborah Jevans, AELTC chair
- “You cannot run a sustainable business, and we have nearly been around for 150 years, just by looking at revenue. That is just plainly wrong.” — Deborah Jevans, AELTC chair
What’s Next
The AELTC plans talks with the French Tennis Federation during Wimbledon and with the United States Tennis Association before the US Open. Players say they will revisit a player council after the championships.
