Entertainment
Alcaraz, Swiatek, Sinner, Sabalenka push for more money and reform as Djokovic notably absent
A host of top tennis stars have sent a second series of letters to the Grand Slam events pushing for more prize money and reform.
The Athletic has reported that the letters were sent on July 30, and that they were signed by almost all of the players at the top of the men’s and women’s rankings, including Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek, Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka.
Tennis legend Novak Djokovic is the only player that signed the original letter, which was sent on March 21, who is not involved in these second letters. Elena Rybakina and Felix Auger-Aliassime are the only other current top 10 players not to sign the latest letters.
The original letter was signed by the top 10 players on the ATP and WTA tours from the week of March 3, with the exception of Rybakina. Mirra Andreeva, ranked 11th at the time, was also included.
L’Equipe revealed that players sent the first letter to the four majors with the purpose of “demanding a substantial increase in their prize money.”
Jack Draper, Lorenzo Musetti, Ben Shelton, Amanda Anisimova and Frances Tiafoe have signed the latest letters having not been involved in the first one.
The Athletic explains that players have called for reform from the Grand Slams in three main areas in the second letters:
- To start contributing to player welfare and a benefit fund to improve pension, health care, and maternity benefits.
- An increase in prize money as a proportion of revenue — up from the current estimate of 16 percent to 22 percent by 2030, in line with joint ATP and WTA Tour events.
- Greater player consultation and representation, with the formation of a Grand Slam Player Council.
The absence of Djokovic’s signature from the second series of letters is notable and surprising given the active role the 24-time major winner has played in pushing for change in the sport.
The Serbian co-founded the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), a players’ union, in 2020.
In March, the PTPA launched legal action against the ATP and WTA Tours, the International Tennis Federation (ITF), and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), accusing the governing bodies of implementing “anticompetitive restraints and abusive practices.”
The PTPA added the four Grand Slams to the lawsuit on Tuesday, and it is unclear whether this relates to Djokovic’s decision not to sign the second letters to the majors.
Djokovic spoke about signing the first letter during the Monte Carlo Masters in April.
“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,” said the tennis legend.
Entertainment
Djokovic learns fate in new home as Sabalenka addresses behaviour
Express Sport brings you the latest tennis news from the Paris Masters.
We’re reaching the business end of the Paris Masters, as eight players become four in the French capital. Jannik Sinner is the overwhelming favourite to lift the trophy after Carlos Alcaraz was dumped out by Cameron Norrie in the Spaniard’s opening match. Norrie was then beaten by Valentin Vacherot, whose amazing 10-match winning streak at Masters 1000 level came to an end when he lost to Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Canadian star Auger-Aliassime will face Alexander Bublik in the semis. Bublik defeated Alex de Minaur, who is among those to have already qualified for the year-end ATP Finals. Sinner is through to his first Paris Masters semi-final after beating Ben Shelton. He’ll face defending champion Alexander Zverev, who survived a tough match against Daniil Medvedev.
Novak Djokovic is not involved in the Paris Masters, having decided to skip the event for the second year in a row, but he has learned his fate in the draw of next week’s ATP 250 in Athens. And over in Riyadh, the WTA Finals are about to get underway.
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