In a significant development for professional tennis, world number one Aryna Sabalenka has publicly endorsed a movement by leading players advocating for a greater portion of Grand Slam earnings. This stance comes even as the prestigious Wimbledon tournament announced a substantial 20 percent increase in its prize fund for the current year. Sabalenka, among other elite athletes, contends that current financial distributions are insufficient, particularly for those ranked lower in the sport, and aims to secure improved welfare provisions across the tennis circuit.
The collective of players, spearheaded by former WTA chief executive Larry Scott, is pushing for Grand Slams to allocate a larger percentage of their considerable revenues to competitors. Wimbledon's prize pool of 64.2 million pounds (approximately .7 million) for this year represents about 15 percent of its total income. This figure falls short of the players' desired 16 percent, which would amount to roughly 70 million pounds (.4 million). Sabalenka highlighted that the current increase, while appreciated, merely brings the percentage distribution back to levels seen in 2016, indicating a lack of real growth over the past decade.
Echoing similar demonstrations at the French Open, Sabalenka limited her interactions with the media prior to Wimbledon, a tactic designed to draw attention to their cause. During a concise press conference, she articulated her hope for constructive dialogue. "It's a fantastic start, they've boosted the prize money. It's an incredible beginning," she stated. "However, if you consider the last decade, and compare the prize money to 2016, the percentage remains largely the same because it had previously declined. I genuinely hope we can finally engage in discussions and reach a mutually satisfactory resolution, ensuring we don't have to resort to these measures again."
Winning a Wimbledon title this year would award Sabalenka 3.6 million pounds (.7 million), a notable increase from the 3 million pounds ( million) received by the 2025 champions. Even players exiting in the first round will see their earnings rise from 66,000 pounds (.1 million) to 80,000 pounds (6,000). Addressing potential public skepticism regarding highly compensated athletes demanding more, Sabalenka clarified that their actions serve the broader tennis community. "We're doing this for the sport, not for ourselves," she asserted. "We're doing it for the numerous players who struggle to even afford a coach. Life is far from easy for those with lower rankings."
Sabalenka believes the public understands their motivations. "I'm confident the audience understands. We compete, we entertain. Our current strategy involves limiting media engagement, striving for an outcome that satisfies everyone," she explained. The All England Club expressed its "surprise and disappointment" at the protest, noting that its proposal for a player council to address such concerns had been rejected. The club emphasized its record prize money increase and significant investments in player facilities as part of a three-year modernization project.
Sabalenka, aged 28, arrived at Wimbledon having recovered psychologically from a disappointing performance at the French Open, where she lost her quarterfinal match against Diana Shnaider. With the support of her psychologist, she feels her performance and mindset are now aligning. The ongoing discussions highlight the persistent tension between tournament organizers and players over revenue sharing and athlete welfare within professional tennis.