Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff, Top Tennis Stars Ask for More Prize Money at Grand Slams

Some of the top tennis stars are seeking more money for Grand Slam wins.

Per Howard Fendrich of the Associated Press, Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff are among the 20 players who signed a letter to the heads of the four Grand Slam tournaments asking for more prize money.

The group also asked for more of a say in "decisions that directly impact us."

According to Fendrich, the letter is dated March 21 and starts by requesting an in-person meeting with the heads of the four Grand Slam tournaments at the Madrid Open, which starts April 22. The letter is addressed to Craig Tiley of the Australian Open, Stephane Morel of the French Open, Sally Bolton of Wimbledon, and Lew Sherr of the U.S. Open.

The letter is signed by 10 of the top 11 women in the rankings from the week of March 3 and all 10 of the top-ranked men. Elena Rybakina, who was ranked No. 7 that week, is the only name in the top 10 absent from the list.

The letter points to three areas for improvement.

First, the athletes have asked for Grand Slam tournaments to make financial contributions to player welfare programs funded by pro tours. The letter also asks that prize money increase "to a more appropriate percentage of tournament revenues, reflective of the players' contribution to tournament value." Additionally, the players want to have a voice in decisions "directly impacting competition, as well as player health and welfare."

The letter comes just two weeks after the players' association co-founded by Djokovic filed an antitrust lawsuit against the women's and men's professional tours, the International Tennis Federation and the sport's integrity agency in federal court in New York seeking more money for players.

The filing suggests that athletes do not see enough of the revenue earned from tennis events.

Fendrich noted that the U.S. Tennis Association recorded a record total of $75 million in total compensation in 2024, about a 15 percent increase from the previous year's U.S. Open. Wimbledon had around $64 million in prize money in 2024, while the French and Australian Opens each had about $58 million.

The French Open, the second of four Grand Slam tournaments this year, will begin in Paris on May 25.