Djokovic, Gauff Lead Player Push for Higher Prize Money With Letter To Grand Slams
News
Almost all Top 10 ATP and WTA players have united to sign a letter making demands to the Australian Open, the French Open at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open.
The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) recently generated headlines by announcing a lawsuit against the ATP, WTA, ITF, and ITIA. Many reasons were given, including the percentage of revenue given to players.
However, no players currently at the top signed the lawsuit, and even Djokovic, despite being a co-founder of the PTPA, admitted he did not agree with all aspects of the legal action.
By contrast, the unified action taken by most of the world's top men's and women's players in their letter to the four Grand Slams may have a more lasting impact and generate meaningful change.
The Associated Press reported that it had acquired a copy of the letter. It is dated March 21st and asks for an in-person meeting between player representatives and those from the four Grand Slams at the 2025 Madrid Open, which starts on April 22nd.
There are three core areas that the players want to focus on in the meeting. One is prize money increasing "to a more appropriate percentage of tournament revenues, reflective of the players' contribution to tournament value."
Secondly, the players want more direct influence in matters "directly impacting competition, as well as player health and welfare." Many stars have admitted they do not feel like the Grand Slams and the ATP or WTA listen carefully enough to their concerns.
The other request in the letter is for the four major tournaments to make financial contributions to player welfare programs funded by the ATP and WTA Tours, ensuring a more equitable distribution of the burden.
Ten of the Top 11 women's players and all the Top 10 men provided handwritten signatures at the bottom of the letter. Elena Rybakina, who was recently pictured again with Stefano Vukov, is the only current Top 10 player on either tour not to sign it.
The complete list of signees are: Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys, Mirra Andreeva, Jasmine Paolini, Emma Navarro, Paula Badosa, Qinwen Zheng, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev, and Alex de Minaur.
A letter signed by so many of the most significant names in tennis means it will be impossible for the Grand Slam representatives to ignore it. The meeting with player representatives requested in the letter could be a pivotal moment for the sport.
Some issues could prove more contentious than others. Making a contribution of some kind to wellness programs from the ATP and WTA might prove simple, and shows that the players, despite critiquing the governing bodies on some issues, value the ATP and WTA's programs to help them.
A change in the revenue structure and more core decisions being made with player input may be more complicated since it would require fundamental changes to how Grand Slams operate.
It will be fascinating to discover whether the meeting and any subsequent ones afterward bring about changes that benefit the players. Top players signed the letter, but it is clear they are advocating for these changes for their lower-ranked colleagues as well.
