NEW YORK (AP) – Top tennis players are renewing their โpush for a greater share of revenueโฃ andโ increased influence within the sport, adding the Grand โขSlam tournament โorganizers to an existing antitrust lawsuit andโฃ continuing direct appeals to tournament hosts. The escalating effort comes as players point to rising tournament profits -โ the U.S. Open purse grew 57% over the past five years, reaching $90 million this year – andโ seek a moreโ equitable distribution of thoseโข gains.
A letter from U.S. open champions Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos alcaraz, along with representatives from the WTA andโ ATP Tours, to the four Slam hosts emphasized the benefits of player collaboration in โdriving revenue. “Players – as evidenced by the 57% growthโฃ of โthe U.S. Openโข purse over the past five years – notably when โadditional collaboration on the part of the players helps to create โadditional revenue,” the โletterโ stated. “Such as, this year’s significantโข increase in compensation to $90 million reflects the addition of anโค extra day to the main draw singles competition and the resulting contribution made by players.” Sabalenka and alcaraz each received a record $5 million at this month’s U.S.โฃ Open.
The push for change followsโข a Marchโข letter from players to theโฃ four Slam hosts and the filingโค of anโ antitrust lawsuit by the Professional Tennis Players’ โassociation (PTPA), co-founded by Novak โDjokovic, against the women’s and men’s professional tours. Djokovic was not listed as a plaintiffโฃ in โขthe suit. The PTPA announcedโค this week that the Grandโ Slam tournament organizers have been added โคasโ defendants.
The antitrust filingโ alleges โคthat too โฃlittle revenue reaches the players and outlines broader concerns about the sport’s governance. The WTA โand ATP โขtoursโ jointly filed a motion to dismissโค the case in May. โข
The PTPA stated thatโค adding the Grand slam organizers โคto the lawsuit is “a necessary next step to guarantee accountability โfrom all parties, and accelerate long-overdue โขreform across the entire tennis ecosystem.”
The โฃplayers’ letter also reiterated a commitment “to engaging in direct, honest and obvious discussions with the playersโ toโ buildโฃ a stronger future for theโ entire tennis ecosystem โ- including a healthier โขcalendar, โคenhanced player consultation, and greater financial value for โallโ involved.”
