The Japan Times - Tennis players 'ignored' but 'united' in Grand Slam pay dispute

The bulk of the world's top 10 stars will limit their media duties at the clay-court major, which starts at Roland Garros on Sunday, due to perceived low prize money.

Players have claimed they are currently only paid 15 percent of the revenue from the Slams, asking for 22 percent instead.

"It's not about wanting more money. It's about just wanting what's fair," Fritz told reporters in Paris.

"We have been pretty patient and mild with, I'd say, our requests, and I think all of us feel it's a bit disrespectful to just be ignored when the sport is the healthiest, when I think there is a very fair partnership and open dialogue between the players and the tournaments," said Fritz.

Jannik Sinner, the top-ranked men's player, earlier this month called for the Slam events to show "respect" to players.

Women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka also said at the Italian Open that players might have to boycott the sport's four biggest tournaments -- the Australian, French and US Opens and Wimbledon -- to "defend our rights".

Fritz says a boycott has not been seriously discussed by the players, but did not rule out it becoming a future option.

"Something does have to change if we are ignored, so that's a conversation to have, I think," said the American when asked about a potential boycott.

"Right now I'm not ready to start tossing that around, because I want to really mean it if I'm going to say it."

Sabalenka said her decision to protest was in order to help players lower down the rankings.

"It's not easy to live in this tennis world with the percentage that we are earning," said the Belarusian.

"But as a world number one, I feel like I have to stand up and fight for those players, for lower-level players, especially those who are coming back after injuries, the upcoming next generation."

Novak Djokovic said he was not involved in the protest, suggesting tennis could learn from the way golf has handled the emergence of the breakaway LIV circuit.

"There's a lot of rumours, there's a lot of sentiment on what is happening in terms of the changes in sport, I think it's something inevitable, so hopefully we're going to be able to do it with the least turbulence possible," said the 24-time Grand Slam champion.

- 'They don't hear you' -

French Open tournament director Amelie Mauresmo said Thursday that Roland Garros organisers "would not budge" and increase prize money.

Russia's Andrey Rublev, a 10-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist, hit out at a lack of communication from tournament organisers when players have raised their concerns.

"They don't hear you. They don't answer," said the 28-year-old.

"When you send the mail in, no one responds to official mail for months, it's like -- and we are doing the same thing.

"Come on, guys. We are together, or you completely don't care that much that you cannot even communicate."

Iga Swiatek confirmed she was also taking part in the protest, for which players will speak to the media for no longer than 15 minutes, a limit symbolically chosen to represent the 15 percent of revenue they say they receive.

"We have nothing against media, obviously," said the four-time women's French Open champion.

"I feel like we will do more when the tournament will do more for us."

Women's world number eight Mirra Andreeva believes the players are "united" in the decision to put pressure on organisers.

"I do think that we have a reason behind it, and I do think that all of us are, as I said, united and all of that," said the 19-year-old.

"I do think that it's also nice that players are all together and they have the same opinion about that."

The 2026 French Open singles champions will win 2.8 million euros ($3.3 million) this year, up from 2.55 million euros last year.

The prize money on offer is larger than at the Australian Open, but smaller than at Wimbledon and the US Open.

S.Yamada--JT