Earlier this month, L’Équipe reported that the top 20 players from both the ATP and WTA joined forces to demand higher payouts from the four Grand Slam tournaments—Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open. Carlos Alcaraz, a leading figure in men’s tennis, weighed in on the matter during an interview with Marca, clarifying his stance on the issue.
The report revealed that the players sent a formal letter to the Grand Slam organizers, calling for a substantial prize money boost and a more equitable revenue-sharing model.
In his interview, Alcaraz emphasized the importance of fairness in how earnings are distributed. “Tennis is a well-paid sport, but the percentages need to be fair,” Alcaraz said.
“If we’re the ones providing the entertainment for fans who pay to watch us, then the revenue percentages should reflect what we deserve,” he continued. “That’s why we’ve come together”.
Carlos Alcaraz with the 2025 Monte Carlo Masters trophy after defeating Lorenzo Musetti. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Comparing tennis earnings to other sports
According to the players’ arguments, a key point of contention lies in the disparity between tennis earnings and those in sports like the NBA, where athletes receive around 50% of total revenue. For example, at the 2024 French Open, prize money reached nearly €54 million—just 16% of the tournament’s estimated €338 million revenue from the previous year.
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PTPA pushes for reform
This isn’t the first time tennis players have called for change. Before the top 20 players’ recent demands, the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), co-founded by Novak Djokovic, had already filed a comprehensive complaint against tennis’ governing bodies.
The 163-page document accused the ATP, WTA, ITF, and International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) of monopolistic practices, systemic abuse, unfair prize money distribution, and neglect of player welfare, among other issues.
The PTPA highlighted the stark disparity in revenue-sharing compared to other sports. “Tennis players receive only 17% of total revenue, compared to sports like golf, basketball, and football, where athletes earn between 35% and 50%,” the union stated.
They even cited a striking example: “In 2024, the US Open generated $12.8 million from sales of a single signature cocktail, a figure higher than what was paid to the two singles champions combined”.
