NEW YORK (AP) – Top tennis players are renewing their push for a greater share of revenue and increased influence within the sport, adding the Grand Slam tournament organizers to an existing antitrust lawsuit and continuing direct appeals to tournament hosts. The escalating effort comes as players point to rising tournament profits - the U.S. Open purse grew 57% over the past five years, reaching $90 million this year – and seek a more equitable distribution of those gains.
A letter from U.S. open champions Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos alcaraz, along with representatives from the WTA and ATP Tours, to the four Slam hosts emphasized the benefits of player collaboration in driving revenue. “Players – as evidenced by the 57% growth of the U.S. Open purse over the past five years – notably when additional collaboration on the part of the players helps to create additional revenue,” the letter stated. “Such as, this year’s significant increase in compensation to $90 million reflects the addition of an 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. Open.
The push for change follows a March letter from players to the four Slam hosts and the filing of an antitrust lawsuit by the Professional Tennis Players’ association (PTPA), co-founded by Novak Djokovic, against the women’s and men’s professional tours. Djokovic was not listed as a plaintiff in the suit. The PTPA announced this week that the Grand Slam tournament organizers have been added as defendants.
The antitrust filing alleges that too little revenue reaches the players and outlines broader concerns about the sport’s governance. The WTA and ATP tours jointly filed a motion to dismiss the case in May.
The PTPA stated that adding the Grand slam organizers to the lawsuit is “a necessary next step to guarantee accountability from all parties, and accelerate long-overdue reform across the entire tennis ecosystem.”
The players’ letter also reiterated a commitment “to engaging in direct, honest and obvious discussions with the players to build a stronger future for the entire tennis ecosystem - including a healthier calendar, enhanced player consultation, and greater financial value for all involved.”
