2026-05-08 10:25:29

Jannik Sinner has claimed that the world’s leading tennis players aren’t getting the respect they deserve.

The top 10 players in the men’s and women’s game are demanding a higher percentage of the revenue generated by the four Grand Slam tournaments – as well as more of a say in areas such as event scheduling – and the world number one feels that the authorities should do more to accommodate the stars.

Sinner said: “It’s more about respect.

“I think we give much more than what we are getting back. It’s not only for the top players – it’s for all of us players, from men’s and women’s side.

“The top 10 men and top 10 women, we wrote a letter and it’s not nice that after one year we are not even close to a conclusion for what we would like to have.

“Talking in other sports, if the top athletes, they send important letters, I truly believe that within 48 hours you have not only a response but you also have a meeting.

“Of course we talk about money. The most important is respect, and we just don’t feel it.”

Sinner is disappointed at the 9.5 per cent prize money offered at the upcoming French Open – which is considerably short of the 22 per cent tournament revenue they are entitled to.

The four-time Grand Slam winner said: “I think in the next couple of weeks we know also the prize money we’re going to have in Wimbledon.

“We truly hope that it’s going to be better. Then, of course, US Open. So I do understand players talking about boycott because it’s somewhere we also need to start. It has been a very long time with this.”

Women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka expects players to start boycotting the majors if the dispute isn’t resolved but Sinner stopped short of committing such a move.

The Italian ace said: “Of course, it’s tough to say. I cannot predict the future in a way.

“It’s the first time that I feel like the players are all in the same scenario and in the same point of view.

“I think it’s also right because without the players, they are not going to happen, any tournaments. In the same time we also know and we respect the tournaments because they make us bigger as athletes.

“Let’s see in the future.”

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