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World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka believes tennis players should boycott the Grand Slam tournaments if it means organisers will listen to their pleas about prize money. Sabalenka is part of a group of top players - which also includes Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz - who have expressed their "deep disappointment" at the French Open's recent prize money announcement.

Organisers recently confirmed a 9.53 per cent increase in this year's prize pot, with the singles champions to receive £2.4million (€2.8million). However, this group has pointed out that the players' share of tournament revenue will reduce. This is the same player cohort who, in March 2025, co-signed a letter to leaders of the four Grand Slam tournaments, asking for a greater share of tournament revenue as prize money, financial contributions to player welfare schemes, and greater say in decisions that impact them.

These players are Sinner, Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alex de Minaur on the men's side. Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys, Jasmine Paolini, Emma Navarro, Zheng Qinwen, Paula Badosa and Mirra Andreeva signed the letter on the WTA side.

Players are set to receive less than 15 per cent of the French Open tournament revenue. In comparison, joint ATP and WTA 1000 events like this week's Italian Open share 22 per cent of revenues as prize money. And it was at the Italian Open where Sabalenka suggested players could boycott the Majors.

"I think at some point we will boycott it, yeah. I feel like that's going to be the only way to kind of, like, fight for our rights. Well, I'm trying not to, like, overthink that because we're trying our best, we're doing what we can do. Let's see how far we can get. If it's going to take players for boycott," she said. "I feel like nowadays, we girls can easily get together and go for this because some of the things I feel like it's really unfair to the players. I think at some point it's going to get to this."

Some of Sabalenka's rivals and colleagues have now had their say on her suggestions for a boycott. While some, like Gauff, agree that it could be an effective way to make themselves heard, other players aren't getting involved. Express Sport takes a look at what several top WTA stars had to say about skipping the Grand Slams.

While Gauff has "never been part of any real discussion" regarding a boycott, she agrees with Sabalenka's claims that it may be the only way to have their requests met. "Honestly, I kind of agree with that, just taking what the WNBA kind of accomplished. They also have a union, so I think that helps," she explained.

"I definitely think, from my not experience, because I don't have a lot of life experiences, but from the things I've seen with other sports, usually to make massive progress and things like this, it takes a union. We have to become unionised in some way. I think you can put pressure on media, media pressure and things like that. For all of us showing up, everyone's going to act as normal. I definitely agree with her on that standpoint. I think a few other players agree, too."

But the world No. 4 knows all players will have to be on board for it to work. She added: "If everyone were to move as one and collaborate, yeah, I can 100 per cent see that. It's not about me. It's about the future of our sport and also the current players who aren't getting, I guess, as much benefits maybe as even some of the top players are getting when it comes to like sponsorship and things like that. We're making money off court.

"When you look at the 50 to 100, 50 to 200, how much money each slam makes, it's kind of unfortunate where the 200 best tennis players are living paycheck to paycheck, whereas other sports it's not even a discussion. And we are profiting. I definitely think, like I said, if we all collectively agree, then yes. I mean, I wouldn't want to just be the only one because people talk about it. I'm just like, Yeah. Then I'm like the only one not playing! That is where there needs to be a real discussion.

"I think that is something us as players have to talk amongst another and do it, and talk within each other and decide what's best. But we definitely can move more as a collective. I feel like we're doing well, though. The progress we made since last year to now, just having the top 10 all agree on something, is I think the first that's happened in our sport in a long time. I do think there's progress, but we can do more, for sure."

The six-time Grand Slam champion believes the top players are aligned when it comes to discussing problems, but admitted a boycott could be "extreme". She said: "I think we have good communication between us. Sometimes if it's an important topic, we are ready to speak together.

"Also the same thing happened with scheduling when the changes have been made about mandatory tournaments. Unfortunately, we were a bit late in terms of the reaction. I think we have, like, a pretty clear and similar vision.

"But boycotting the tournament, it's a bit extreme kind of situation. I don't know. I guess we as players are here to play as individuals, and we're competing against each other. There have been, like, situations like that, so it's really hard for me to say how it would work, if it's even there on the picture. For now, I haven't heard anything."

Rybakina did not co-sign the initial letter in 2025 and isn't involved in any discussions, but would be "up for" a boycott if everyone was on board. "Well, it's a tough question because we had so many things in the past where players could come together and boycott, but it never happened," she said.

"I honestly don't know. If the majority say we are boycotting, we are not playing, then of course I'm up for it. It's not an issue. I feel like the improvement we need to have, it's not only on the Grand Slams, and it's not only about raising the prize money. A lot of people are not aware that there is taxes which are big. You even make more prize money, but you giving it all to the taxes. It's a different topic.

"It's tough to say about boycotting. As I said, for many years we had different issues. For now, not once players really came together and did any changes. No, I'm not participating [in the talks]. No one came to me to talk about it, not from the WTA, not from the players council, not other players. It's not on my mind at all."

Although Andreeva co-signed the letter to representatives of the four Grand Slams last year, the teenager said she didn't have enough experience to discuss a boycott.

She explained: "Well, I wouldn't say that I have so much experience on talking about all of that. I do think obviously I'm just going to play tournaments and try to really put all my work and all my focus into winning the tournaments.

"For now, my focus is not about prize money for the moment, so I'm just really trying to begin that experience and try to win as many matches as possible. That's what I'm focusing on right now."