Top men's and women's tennis players have decided to continue their protests for a greater percentage of grand slam tournament revenues at Wimbledon. The protest, which began at the French Open, will extend through the first week of the championships, with players limiting their media duties.
Protest Details and Timeline
After a month of minimal movement following the French Open, where top players limited pre-tournament media duties to 15 minutes, the players will now limit post-match media duties during the first week of Wimbledon, from Monday 29 June to 5 July. The decision follows a collective letter sent to grand slam organisers requesting a higher percentage of prize money revenues, contributions to player welfare funds, and the formation of a grand slam player committee.
Revenue Share Disparity
The All England Club had hoped to avoid confrontation and announced a record 20% prize money increase for this year's championships, raising the total to £64.2m. However, the player group had pushed for £71m. According to the player group, the revenue share at Wimbledon stands at 14.4%, while they are demanding 16%. The players acknowledged the significant rise but deemed it insufficient.
Background and Previous Actions
At the French Open, top players initiated a boycott of all but mandatory media obligations during pre-tournament media day, refusing to speak with broadcast rights holders. The protests are led by top players including world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who stated, "As world No 1, I have to stand up and fight." The player group continues to push for a greater share of revenues generated by the grand slams.
