Full Breakdown
Grand Slams Move Toward a Player Advisory Council Amid Prize-Money Dispute
8/19/2026, 11:08:58 PM
A joint council to give players a formal voice
The four Grand Slam tournaments have agreed to create a Player Advisory Council, a structure intended to address the ongoing dispute over prize-money distribution. The council would be announced alongside the United States Tennis Association’s (USTA) prize-money figures for this year’s US Open, which is scheduled to begin on August 30.
Roots of the conflict
For roughly 18 months, leading players—including world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka—have pressed the slams to allocate a larger share of tournament revenues to prize money. Their demand mirrors the 22 % revenue-share model used by the ATP and WTA tours. By contrast, Wimbledon’s £64.2 million prize pool represented about 14.4 % of its total earnings, highlighting the disparity that players cite as unfair.
Financial stakes and proposed revenue share
The US Open has traditionally offered the highest prize pool, with last year’s total at $90 million. Players in the locker room expect this year’s fund to exceed $100 million for the first time. The proposed council would allow players to influence how prize-money percentages are set and how representatives are selected, according to a source involved in the negotiations.
Player actions and boycott threats
In May, the world’s top-10 men and women withdrew from some contracted media duties at the French Open to pressure the slams. A planned media boycott at Wimbledon the following month was called off after last-minute talks. Ahead of the US Open, several players have threatened to boycott the mixed-doubles event—a component the USTA hopes to expand into a three-week tournament to boost revenue. Notably, Sinner is absent from the main draw, while Sabalenka will compete in mixed doubles with Novak Djokovic.
Official responses and next steps
The USTA, now led by former Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley, is expected to confirm the council’s details in its upcoming prize-money announcement. A source close to the talks emphasized that player input on council composition and decision-making authority is “vital.” The establishment of the council and the US Open’s prize-money figures will be the immediate benchmarks for whether the dispute moves toward resolution.
