French Open opens amid players' 15-minute press 'work-to-rule' protest
- French Open players opened a 15-minute “work-to-rule” media protest on May 24 as Roland Garros began first-round play in Paris. (rolandgarros.com) - The key number is 15: players used it to symbolize an alleged 14.3%-15% share of Grand Slam revenue going to prize money. (nbcsports.com) - Roland Garros runs through June 7 in Paris, with Jannik Sinner, Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka among the central names. (atptour.com)
The French Open began on Sunday, May 24, at Roland Garros in Paris, with first-round matches underway as players pressed a separate dispute over prize money and revenue sharing. Leading players had agreed to limit pre-tournament media sessions to 15 minutes in a “work-to-rule” protest tied to their complaints about the share of Grand Slam revenue that goes to prize money. (rolandgarros.com) BBC Sport reported that Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Jannik Sinner were among the players who cut their media duties short. (nbcsports.com) Roland Garros’ official site listed Sunday as the start of the main draw, with live first-round coverage from the grounds. (atptour.com) ### Why were players stopping at 15 minutes? Players at the French Open said the shortened media sessions were a protest over compensation, not a boycott of the tournament itself. The Associated Press reported on May 20 that players were planning to reduce media appearances ahead of the Grand Slam to complain about their share of prize money. The 15-minute cap was symbolic. NBC Sports, carrying the AP report, said a player group had targeted the tournament over an alleged 14.3% player share of revenue, compared with 22% at other ATP and WTA events. (rolandgarros.com) Yahoo Sports reported the 15 minutes were intended to reflect the roughly 15% of revenue that Grand Slams allocate to prize money on average. Ubitennis separately reported that players planned to walk out once 15 minutes had elapsed. ### Which players were involved? BBC Sport named Sabalenka, Gauff and Sinner among the leading players who limited their French Open media duties to 15 minutes. (usnews.com) Forbes also identified Sinner, Sabalenka and Gauff as prominent names linked to the protest after earlier boycott talk faded. AP’s advance report said top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and No. 4 Coco Gauff were among the leading players who had threatened a boycott of the Slams if compensation did not improve. The protest that followed was narrower: a reduction in media availability rather than a refusal to play. (nbcsports.com) ### Did the protest affect the opening of the tournament? Roland Garros’ official website showed the tournament opening on Sunday with “premier tour” coverage and first-round matches in progress. ATP Tour said the main draw runs from May 24 to June 7 at Stade Roland Garros in Paris, with night sessions on Court Philippe-Chatrier scheduled from May 24 through June 3. (bbc.co.uk) The protest was aimed at media obligations, not match participation. Yahoo Sports reported on Sunday that the tournament would proceed as usual and that players were expected to fulfill media obligations once main-draw play began after discussions between representatives and Roland Garros officials. (nbcsports.com) That report described the one-day action as the culmination of longer-running complaints over Grand Slam prize money. ### Who enters Paris as the player to beat? (rolandgarros.com) Jannik Sinner arrived in Paris as the clear men’s favorite in several tournament previews. CBS Sports said Sinner entered Roland Garros with a 17-0 record on clay in 2026 and listed him as a -350 favorite. BBC Sport described the men’s draw as potentially a “one-horse race,” with Sinner the dominant storyline, especially with Carlos Alcaraz absent. Coco Gauff entered as the defending women’s champion, according to CBS Sports, while BBC’s protest report underscored that she was also one of the most prominent players involved in the media action. (sports.yahoo.com) Aryna Sabalenka was another central figure on both counts: a leading contender in Paris and one of the players who curtailed press duties. ### What comes next at Roland Garros? ATP Tour said Roland Garros will continue through Sunday, June 7, with the singles finals scheduled for that day and the doubles final on June 6. The official Roland Garros site is carrying the daily order of play, draw information and live results as first-round matches continue in Paris. (cbssports.com) (atptour.com)
