French Open players plan 15-minute press
- Players at the French Open announced a 'work-to-rule' protest starting Friday that will limit pre-tournament press conferences to 15 minutes each day. - Organizers confirmed the overall 2026 French Open prize pool rose 9.5% to $72.3 million from 2025, per multiple outlets reports Tuesday online. - The media protest limit begins Friday, May 22, ahead of Roland Garros play starting later this week. (theguardian.com)
1/ French Open players announced a "work-to-rule" protest on Wednesday, limiting pre-tournament press conferences to 15 minutes per day starting Friday, May 22. The action targets Grand Slam prize money distribution amid ongoing disputes with organizers. 2/ French Open organizers confirmed Tuesday that the 2026 total prize pool has risen 9.5% to €67.5 million ($72.3 million), up from €61.65 million in 2025. First-round losers will receive €67,000, a 9.6% increase. 3/ Players argue the increase doesn't go far enough. Top players generate most revenue for the four Grand Slams but receive a shrinking share as prize pools grow, according to the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA). 4/ The PTPA, co-founded by Novak Djokovic in 2020, called the French Open's announcement "disappointing." It highlighted that combined Grand Slam revenue exceeded $2 billion last year, yet players want 50% of net revenue—currently around 17-20%. 5/ This isn't the first protest. In 2022, Djokovic and others wore black armbands at Wimbledon over similar issues. The PTPA has pushed for revenue transparency and direct player input on distributions. 6/ "Work-to-rule" means players strictly follow minimum obligations: 15-minute pressers daily instead of full sessions. No impact on matches. It starts May 22, before main draw play begins Sunday, May 24 at Roland Garros. 7/ Organizers say the prize money hike is the largest single-year increase in French Open history. Qualifier first-rounders get €10,000 (up 11%). But PTPA data shows lower-ranked players still lose money after travel and coaching costs. 8/ Key voices: PTPA's Djokovic tweeted support Wednesday, calling for "fair share." French player Ugo Humbert said players are "united" on this. No top seeds like Jannik Sinner or Aryna Sabalenka have pulled out yet. 9/ Broader context: Grand Slams are independent of ATP/WTA tours, controlling their own finances. US Open leads with $75 million pool; Wimbledon follows at $71.5 million. Players seek unified revenue splits across all four. 10/ French Open officials expect the protest to have "minimal impact." Main draw features defending champ Coco Gauff, top seed Sabalenka, and Djokovic. Carlos Alcaraz is absent due to injury. Play runs through June 7.
