sports
February 2, 2026
Top players reject offer to have greater say in running of major tennis championships
The tennis pay row has escalated further with the world’s top 10 male and female players rejecting an offer from the grand slams to set up a player council that would give them a greater say in the running of the major championships.
TL;DR
- Top 10 male and female players rejected an offer from Wimbledon, French Open, and US Open to set up a player council.
- Players want substantive responses on prize money proposals (22% of revenue by 2030) and player welfare before discussing governance.
- Current prize money distribution is significantly lower than requested; Wimbledon's prize pot was 12.3% of revenue last year.
- The Australian Open is not involved in the dispute and aligns with the PTPA, which is suing the other three Grand Slam bodies.
- Players are concerned that focusing on council formation over economic issues will delay progress.
- Disillusionment among female players is growing due to issues like unconsulted TV camera placements and potential changes to match formats.
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