Jannik Sinner has taken a leading role in voicing the frustrations of tennis players over the growing financial and welfare divide within our sport. World no. 2 criticized fourMajors, the leading and most prestigious tournaments in the calendar.
In his opinion, they have failed to engage with repeated player requests to address prize money distribution and welfare benefits for lower-ranked competitors.
According to reports, the world's top-10 players - including Jannik Sinner, Casper Ruud, Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka - made proposals in August. However, they were dismissed by Major executives.
The tournaments have reportedly cited ongoing legal issues involving the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), backed by Novak Djokovic, and broader calendar negotiations as reasons to delay formal talks.
ADVERTISEMENT
Per Sinner and his peers, the current system leaves too many players struggling financially, even those who battle on the biggest stages. WTA and ATP events, like Indian Wells and the Italian Open, return roughly 22% of total income during two weeks to players.
On the other hand, the four Majors allocate only around 12-15% of their huge profits. For instance, a total revenues at Wimbledon exceed�400 million, and the prize money stands at�50 million, or 12%!
The players extended their demands, requesting that the Majors contribute to welfare programs like pensions, healthcare and maternity support. Those benefits have already been partly founded by the ATP and WTA.
The early discussions were productive, but recent silence from Majors has reignited tensions. Sinner's leadership has inspired several top names to publicly back the movement and fight for their rights.
ADVERTISEMENT
The ongoing issue is again on the table. It's much more than a debate over money. It represents a test of how tennis values its entire professional community, from world champions to those fighting to qualify for Majors at Challengers and Futures.
"We had good conversations with Major events in Paris and London. It was disappointing when they said they can not act on our proposals until other issues are resolved.
Calendar and scheduling are important topics, but nothing is stopping Majors from addressing player welfare benefits like pensions and healthcare right now. They are the biggest events in our sport, generating most of the revenue in tennis.
We are asking for a fair contribution to support all players and for prize money that better reflects the tournament's earnings. We want to work together with them to find good solutions for everyone in tennis," Jannik Sinner said.
