Djokovic on Grand Slams pay claim: “We want to be part of the conversation”
Nineteen of the top 20 male and female players on March 21 signed a letter asking the Grand Slams for a greater share of revenue in their prize money
Novak Djokovic, during his media day at Monte-Carlo in 2025 (Chryslène Caillaud / PsnewZ)
There’s no word yet on whether the top players have had a response to their letter to the Grand Slams, in which they have asked for a greater share of tournament revenue. This is not a new push, of course – players asked for the same thing back in 2012 – but there is hope among the world’s best that perhaps this time the sport’s four biggest tournaments might listen.
The best estimate of player prize money as a share of revenue at Grand Slams is around 15 percent, shared equally between the men and women. On the ATP Tour it’s thought to be closer to 30 percent. And while players admit the kind of 50-50 share enjoyed by American sports stars is not going to happen, they are looking for what they deem to be a fairer share.
Just as importantly, they would like a seat at the table to discuss these matters with the slams.
“I think generally the sentiment is that the players feel that we should get it, when it comes to prize money at the Grand Slams, as close to the percentage of the prize money that we are getting on the (ATP) Tour on average,” Novak Djokovic told a small group of reporters at the Monte-Carlo Masters on Sunday.
“That’s something that I think would be fair because logically and rationally thinking about it, that’s probably the best case scenario. But that’s not going to happen overnight, if it happens, so it’s a long term play.
“Hopefully the Grand Slams will respond positively and want to have the players in the room and sit down and talk about the revenue shares, about not just that, but also I think players feel that they need to have counsel with Grand Slam committees and management when they are making some big changes or decisions.
“It’s important because it affects us. (On) rule changes or whatever it is, I think we need to be advised. We need to be part of the conversation, have our representatives.”
Tsitsipas: “Players should just unite”
The letter, which was sent on March 21, according to L’Equipe and the Associated Press, was signed by the top 10 men and nine of the top 10 women at the time (Elena Rybakina was the only exception). It comes, of course, against the backdrop of the lawsuit by the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), against the ATP, WTA, ITF and ITIA, which includes demands for more prize money and a shorter schedule and accuses the Tours of operating a cartel.
Speaking about the letter to the slams, Stefanos Tsitsipas said unity among players was the key to getting something done.
“Players should just unite, and players should be together on this,” he said in Monte-Carlo. “Sometimes I feel like tennis makes us really separate from each other, and it’s a question of uniting all together. And you know, getting what is fair for us, that’s all I can tell you.
“Potentially, I have no figure in my mind, but I will tell you one thing, currently, it’s definitely nowhere, not where it should be at, in my opinion. And it’s quite obvious and I’m just surprised it hasn’t happened. I’m really hoping we can, all of us, get out there and and push them to try and make it as fair as possible, because currently it’s not at the position it should be at.”
Zverev: “50-50 not going to happen”
Alexander Zverev was another to back the plans, while agreeing that talk of 50-50 was not realistic. “It’s never going to be 50-50. ATP is not 50-50,” he said. “So it’s not about that.
“We’re getting what, between seven and eight percent right now from the men’s side and seven and eight percent from the women’s side. I think it’s going to be beneficial if the top players, maybe choose one to two players on the men’s side and one to two players on women’s side, and they sit down with the Grand Slams and maybe try to find a solution.
“It’s no secret. We have the lowest revenue share in professional sport from from the Grand Slam side. So we’re not trying to be saying that has to be 50-50, like an NBA or American sports but a fair share would be nice. I am sure that we’re going to achieve that with the Grand Slams together, as the players.”
