Sinner during the press conference in Rome / EFE
The simmering discontent among tennis players over the prize money at Roland Garros has erupted into the sport’s hottest topic, with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner adding his voice to the chorus. After Aryna Sabalenka first raised the possibility of a boycott, a wave of players echoed the sentiment at the Masters 1000 in Rome. Sinner, typically measured, expressed his frustration while stopping short of calling for a boycott.
“We have been silent for a long time, and I think we’ve reached a point where it’s fair to talk about these things as well,” the Italian said. “We’re not asking for 50%, far from it, but maybe we’re receiving a little too little.” He urged improvements in the coming weeks, adding, “I think in the next two weeks we’ll also know the prize money for Wimbledon. Let’s truly hope it’s better. Then, of course, the US Open.”
The issue has united both the men’s and women’s tours, with top players seeking long-overdue changes. “The top 10 of the WTA and ATP wrote a letter, and it’s not pleasant that after a year we’re not even close to a conclusion on what we’d like to have. In other sports, if top athletes send important letters, I truly believe that within 48 hours you not only get a response but also a meeting on such matters,” Sinner noted.
Despite the tension, he avoided calling for a boycott but acknowledged the growing frustration: “The most important thing is respect, and we simply don’t feel it. So I understand players talking about a boycott, because we have to start somewhere, and it’s been a long time with this. We’ll see what happens in the future.”
