Al Jazeera
The prize money for the French Open will remain unchanged this year, despite complaints from players advocating for an increase, as confirmed by tournament director Amelie Mauresmo.
Prominent players have raised concerns over the organisers’ decision to lower the players' share of revenue to an estimated 14.3 percent, in contrast to the 22 percent seen at other ATP and WTA events.
In response to this situation, many players competing at Roland Garros, which kicks off this Sunday, intend to limit their media engagements to 15 minutes during the traditional pre-tournament media day on Friday.
Mauresmo, herself a distinguished champion of both the Australian Open and Wimbledon, expressed her willingness to engage in further discussions and is hopeful for a resolution. A meeting is anticipated to take place on Friday between tournament officials and the players along with their representatives.
However, when questioned about the possibility of altering the prize money allocation this year, Mauresmo stated on Thursday, "No, we are not going to change anything. We are going to initiate discussions, and that is what everyone wants."
Leading players, including top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and fourth-ranked Coco Gauff, signaled their support for a potential boycott of the Grand Slams if they do not receive improved compensation.
The organisers of Roland Garros did increase the total prize money by approximately 10 percent following significant raises at the United States Open last year, which saw a 20 percent increase, and a 16 percent increase at this year’s Australian Open.
The overall prize pool for the French Open is set at 61.7 million euros ($72 million), reflecting a rise of 5.3 million euros ($6.1 million) from the previous year. However, players maintain that their share of the French Open revenue has declined from 15.5 percent in 2024 to an estimated 14.9 percent in 2026.
They noted that the event generated 395 million euros ($457.7 million) in 2025, which represents a 14 percent increase year-on-year, yet prize money only grew by 5.4 percent, further diminishing the players’ revenue share to 14.3 percent.
The singles champions at Roland Garros will each receive 2.8 million euros ($3.2 million), which amounts to an increase of 250,000 euros ($289,700) from 2025.
"I’m not going to tell you that everything will be resolved with the snap of a finger," Mauresmo remarked. "But the discussions will continue, probably after the tournament."
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