Top Tennis Players Threaten US Open Mixed Doubles Boycott Over Prize Money and Revenue Sharing

A coalition of top-20 players—including Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, Ben Shelton and Elena Rybakina—has warned it may skip the mixed-doubles event and charity exhibitions at the 2026 U.S. Open. The group demands a guaranteed share of tournament revenues as prize money and a formal role in scheduling. On July 4 in London, the players met USTA chairman Brian Vahaly and tournament director Eric Butorac. Both sides reported “progress,” but the USTA has not committed to a specific revenue-sharing formula.

New York Times

The protest stems from a player-led initiative formed over a year ago that has been lobbying all four Grand Slams for player councils, contributions to pension and health-care funds, and a prize-money floor of 16 percent of total revenues (rising to 22 percent by 2030). Earlier this year, Roland Garros offered a proposal linking prize money to financial performance, but it fell short of player targets. Wimbledon and the U.S. Open have each raised prize pools by roughly 20 percent in recent years, yet players argue the increases do not address the underlying revenue-sharing model.

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• July 4 (2026) – Players meet USTA leadership in London.

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• 2025 – U.S. Open prize money rises 21 percent to $85 million; prize-money share of 2024 revenue ($560 million) sits at about 15.2 percent.

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• 2025 Wimbledon – Prize money up 20 percent to about $86 million; players reiterate demand for a revenue-sharing commitment.

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• 2025 French Open – Prize pool climbs to $70 million, a 9.5 percent rise; the tournament offers a formula linking compensation to financial success, still below player expectations.

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• 2024 USTA tournament revenue: $560 million.

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• 2025 U.S. Open prize pool: $85 million, roughly 15.2 percent of that year’s revenue.

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• Projected 2026 revenue could approach $700 million due to higher ticket prices and expanded media rights.

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• Players seek a minimum 16 percent of total revenues for prize money, scaling to 22 percent by 2030.

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• The mixed-doubles event, part of “Fan Week,” is expected to generate additional ticket sales through its inaugural Sunday start.

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The USTA indicated willingness to establish a players’ advisory council and to contribute to pension and welfare programs, but stopped short of naming a specific monetary commitment. Officials also signaled that any definitive revenue-sharing agreement would likely await Tiley’s full integration into his role.

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• “The USTA has created a great platform to inspire further growth in tennis participation,” — Craig Tiley, chief executive of the USTA.

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• “I don’t know if the point’s just not getting across,” — Jessica Pegula.

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The USTA is expected to announce a “significant increase” in prize money for the 2026 U.S. Open, potentially pushing the total pool to $100 million if it follows the prior growth trajectory. No firm commitment to a revenue-sharing formula has been disclosed, and the players’ coalition remains poised to maintain its boycott stance unless a concrete agreement is reached.

New York Times