Wimbledon stars Sinner and Sabalenka drop threat after progress in prize money talks

Leading men’s and women’s tennis players have dropped their threat of a media protest over pay and conditions at Wimbledon after securing last-minute concessions from SW19 chiefs.

Stars including Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner had warned they would limit media commitments to 15 minutes at this year’s Championships, which begin today in London, in response to what they saw as insufficient progress in talks with Grand Slam bosses.

But they have shelved that plan for now, just hours before the start of play, after making progress in talks with the All England Club over the weekend.

“This decision is based on Wimbledon’s commitment to return with specific proposals addressing all three points of the players’ July 2025 submission,” the players said. 

“The underlying matters remain unresolved and players will carefully evaluate the proposals once received. Players will also be providing Wimbledon with further information they have requested in connection with those proposals during the course of the tournament.

“Constructive dialogue with Wimbledon and the other Grand Slams will continue. The players and the Club will make no further comment at this time.”

What are the players asking Grand Slams for?

The players have been petitioning organisers of the four major tournaments for more prize money, welfare contributions and a bigger say in the running of the Slams since last year.

They want the tournaments to allocate 22 per cent of revenue for prize money, in line with top tour events, by 2030. Slams typically reserve around 15 per cent of income for payouts.

Earlier this month Wimbledon bosses insisted they would not commit to a fixed percentage and emphasised that, as a non-profit, they reinvested some of their revenue into the sport.

Following talks with players representative Larry Scott, former chairman of the women’s WTA Tour, at the French Open, Wimbledon announced record prize money of £64.2m for 2026.

But All England Club chair Debbie Jevans said at the time: “Using revenue to determine prize money… makes no sense. What we have done is right and appropriate.”

Women’s world No1 Sabalenka warned this year that players could boycott the Grand Slams if their requests for a bigger share of the proceeds are ignored.