Tennis
Aryna Sabalenka
Tennis
Wimbledon

At Wimbledon, players echo their Roland Garros media protest, limiting press duties to 15 minutes

Wimbledon is up 20% on last year in prize money, but players still want more.
by Redazione Undici 25 June 2026 at 15:40
After what happened at Roland Garros, the standoff continues at Wimbledon between the top players in world tennis and the organisation that runs the Grand Slams. The players repeat what they did in Paris, limiting media duties to 15 minutes, in relation to prize money at the biggest tournaments remaining too small compared to the revenues generated. Some players, including world number one Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff, had gone as far as raising the possibility of a boycott in recent months. It did not come to that, and the tension has remained.

The All England Club announced two weeks ago a 20% increase in prize money compared to last year, taking the total to €74 million, with winners in both draws receiving more than €4 million each and first-round exits earning just over €90,000. The players respond with a 15-minute media boycott ahead of the start of the grass-court tournament scheduled for Monday 29 June, with the four Slams distributing around 15% of their revenues in prize money, less than ATP and WTA events, which reach around 22%.

Wimbledon alone now exceeds €300 million in turnover. Players also point to working conditions and a stronger role in shaping the calendar and the structure of the season. Sabalenka returns to the issue during the 15 minutes allowed in Paris. “It’s not about me,” she says, “it’s about the players lower down the rankings. It’s not easy to live in this tennis world with the percentage we earn. As world number one, I feel I have to stand up for those players, for those coming back from injury, and for the next generation.”

From Wimbledon, the response is swift. A spokesperson for the All England Club says the organisation is “disappointed and surprised” by the players’ decision to extend the media boycott. “Wimbledon puts players at the centre of all its decisions and is committed to investing significantly in them every year. This year’s prize money has increased by 20%, the largest rise in the history of the tournament. This is in addition to hundreds of millions of pounds invested in upgrading player facilities.”

Still, the dispute continues and remains open.

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