Aryna Sabalenka warns Grand Slam boycotts could be next step in pay dispute

Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Many players believe the prize money at Grand Slams isn’t enough, and there’s even talk of a possible boycott in response.

Sam Querrey, who once reached the Wimbledon semi-finals, says players would be better off boycotting Grand Slams instead of just complaining about how much they get paid.

But where does Aryna Sabalenka, the current world number one, stand on all this?

Aryna Sabalenka says Grand Slam boycotts are likely

Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Sabalenka was asked about the ongoing dispute over Grand Slam prize money during her press conference at the Italian Open.

“I feel like the show is on us. I feel like without us, there wouldn’t be a tournament, and there wouldn’t be that entertainment. I feel like definitely we deserve to be paid more percentage.”

When pressed on whether she thinks players might eventually boycott Grand Slams, Sabalenka didn’t hesitate.

“I think at some point we will boycott it, yeah,” she replied.

“I feel like that’s going to be the only way to kind of fight for our rights.”

The issue isn’t just about prize money but also about how much of the total revenue players are getting.

The top players from both men’s and women’s tennis responded by releasing a joint statement after learning that French Open prize money would rise by only 9.5% from 2025 to 2026.

What exactly did players say about the Grand Slam prize money?

“Roland Garros generated €395m in revenue in 2025, a 14% year-on-year increase, yet prize money rose by only 5.4%, reducing players’ share of revenue to 14.3%,” they said.