Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff's Boycott Warning Over Prize Money Supported by Italian Open Exec

Italian Tennis president Angelo Binaghi is backing Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff after the star players publicly discussed potentially boycotting tournaments over prize money payouts.

Speaking to reporters amid the ongoing Italian Open tournament, Binaghi expressed "full support" for the stance being taken by Sabalenka and Gauff:

"The players have our full support. It's scandalous that we're required by the ATP to share a bigger cut of the revenues with the players and the four Grand Slams hand out a smaller cut. It's shameful and creates competitive disparities, too, because the four nations (that organize the Slams) have a huge amount of money to invest in their technical sectors that other nations don't have. I want to blow apart this monopoly."

Sabalenka used her press conference on Tuesday in Italy to express disappointment in the overall cut of the prize money players receive from the four Grand Slam events.

"Without us there wouldn't be a tournament and there wouldn't be that entertainment. I feel like definitely we deserve to be paid more percentage," Sabalenka said. "I think at some point we will boycott it. I feel like that's going to be the only way to fight for our rights. ... I feel like nowadays, we girls can easily get together and go for this because some of the things I feel like it's really unfair to the players. I think at some point it's going to get to this."

Other players, including Gauff and Jasmine Paolini, shared similar sentiments as Sabalenka.

"I definitely think there's a consensus around that this needs to be addressed for all players of all levels, especially the lower-ranked players, too," Gauff explained. "I want to leave the sport better than I found it. If I can say I played my part when I retire, that's something I can be proud of."

Per Andrew Dampf of the Associated Press, in addition to higher payouts, players are seeking "better representation, health options and pensions" from the four Grand Slam tournaments.

Men's and women's players, including Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner, said in a joint statement that their overall share of revenue from Roland Garros has decreased from 15.5 percent in 2024 to a projected 14.9 percent this year:

"According to tournament officials, Roland Garros generated 395 million euros in revenue in 2025, a 14% year-on-year increase, yet prize money rose by just 5.4%, reducing players' share of revenue to 14.3%. With estimated revenues of over 400 million euros for this year's tournament, prize money as a percentage of revenue will likely still be less than 15%, far short of the 22% that players have requested to bring the Grand Slams into line with the ATP and WTA Combined 1000 events."

The discussion is occurring in the wake of the French Open announcing last month that the total prize money for the 2026 tournament is up about 10 percent from last year to $72.1 million.

Men's and women's singles champions will receive 2.8 million euros, with 1.4 million euros going to the runners-up. First-round losers get 87,000 euros.

The most famous boycott in tennis history occurred in 1973 when 81 of the top men's players, including Rod Laver and Arthur Ashe, did not participate in Wimbledon in support of Nikola Pilić after he was barred from the tournament for refusing to play a Davis Cup match earlier in the year.

That moment was also credited with the development of the ATP and give players more power over the governing bodies of the sport. It was also the same year Billie Jean King threatened a boycott of the U.S. Open unless women received equal pay compared to their male counterparts.

The U.S. Open acquiesced, making it the first tournament to offer the same pay to men's and women's players.

This year's French Open qualifying matches will begin on May 18, with the main draw beginning on May 24. Sabalenka, who is currently ranked No. 1 in the WTA standings, reached her first final at Roland Garros last year. She lost to Gauff in the championship match.