Published May 22, 2026
Novak Djokovic has warned that the sport is at risk of becoming even more fragmented as a simmering dispute between players and the Grand Slam tournament over revenue sharing intensifies at the French Open, with leading players seeking a greater say in shaping their future.
Some players were expected to limit Friday’s traditional pre-tournament media appearances to 15 minutes and not do any additional multimedia interviews.
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Tensions have been building for weeks, but the rhetoric took a sharper turn in Paris, with players such as Taylor Fritz insisting their grievances were about more than just “wanting more money”.
“I just hope it’s fair,” the American added.
“As tournaments are generating more revenue, we naturally want the revenue returned to players to reflect that.”
Players have cited pensions, tournament expansion, schedules and late-night finishes as issues fueling their discontent, and several have said there is a sustained lack of dialogue from organizers.
Russia’s Andrei Rublev painted a picture of the widening gulf between athletes and sports leaders.
“You try to communicate for years and they don’t listen to you. They don’t answer,” Rublev said. “No one responds to official emails for months, even if I send them emails.”
Rublev said the problem is not just economic, but structural.
“It’s more about whether we’re together and trying to do things together to grow the sport,” he said.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka cast the debate as a fight on behalf of the sport’s minor players rather than its main players.
“This is not my problem. It’s the players lower down the rankings who are struggling,” she said. “But as world number one, I feel I have to stand up and fight for those players.”
Don’t mention the “B” word
Still, players were more cautious about the possibility of a boycott after Sabalenka hinted at the possibility of a boycott in Rome earlier this month.
“I don’t know if we can start using the ‘B’ word,” Fritz said.
“It’s a really big problem and I don’t think you should really make such a big threat as a player unless you’re well prepared.”
Six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek stopped short of endorsing the radical action.
“I don’t think there’s any point in doing anything that’s not constructive,” said the four-time French Open champion. “But we’re willing to work a little harder to get what we need.”
Djokovic said he was not personally involved in the scheduled 15-minute media event, but said he echoed many of the players’ broader concerns, warning of further division in the sport.
“I’ve always been on the side of the players and tried to advocate for the rights of the players and a better future for the players, and it’s not just the top players,” said the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
“We often forget how few people make a living from this sport.”
Djokovic said the lower echelons of professional tennis are vital to the long-term health of the sport and called for greater solidarity between governing bodies, tournaments and players.
“Grand Slams, governing bodies, governing tours, everyone. We’re so divided,” he said.
“So further fragmentation is really hurtful to me personally. I really don’t want to see that.”
The Serb also pointed to the division caused by the emergence of golf and LIV golf as a warning against tennis.
“Let’s learn from that. Let’s try to come together a little bit more and have a unified voice to find a better structure and a better future for our sport,” he said.
At the top ATP and WTA events, around 22% of revenue is redistributed to athletes, while at Grand Slams it is estimated that nearly 15% is returned to the players, a difference that is a major source of tension.
French Open organizers have insisted that the tournament’s proceeds go beyond just prize money to fund the entire domestic tennis ecosystem.
Both players are scheduled to meet with player agents on Friday as talks continue over revenue sharing and player representation.
Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo said she regretted the possibility of reduced media access at the start of the clay-court Grand Slam.
“It’s a shame because Media Day is always an important moment for the tournament, for journalists from all over the world and for the fans through media coverage,” Mauresmo told reporters on Thursday.
“We understand there will be discussions and concerns from our players, but dialogue is always preferable.”
