Wimbledon faces boycott from top players that could cost millions
Wimbledon 2026 protest (photo: Getty Images)
Tennis stars are expanding their protest against Grand Slam prize money distribution. At Wimbledon, players will massively boycott media activities, despite a record 20% increase in the prize fund, according to BTU.
Symbolic 15 minutes: what the protest is about
The large-scale conflict between players and Grand Slam leadership began at Roland Garros, where world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, as well as Iga Świątek, Jannik Sinner and other top players, deliberately limited pre-tournament media interactions.
Legendary Novak Djokovic supported the action verbally but did not take part directly.
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At the London courts, the protest will escalate to a new level. Now players plan to limit not only pre-tournament press conferences but also all post-match interviews during the first week of the competition to 15 minutes.
The 15-minute limit is symbolic. It represents the 15% of income that, according to players’ calculations, Grand Slam tournaments allocate to prize money. This year, athletes are demanding a fixed 16% share of total revenue.
Due to strict time limits, major broadcasters such as the BBC and ESPN may be significantly affected.
Organizers remind that a full refusal to speak to the press can result in fines of up to £50,000, but the “short answers” format does not formally violate Grand Slam rules.
Wimbledon position: “We invest in infrastructure”
The total Wimbledon prize fund will reach a record £64.2 million (the largest annual increase in history), with champions receiving £3.6 million and first-round losers £80,000. However, players believe the amount falls short of their demands by about £7 million.
The All England Club (AELTC) stated they are “surprised and disappointed” by the players’ behavior and argue that revenue percentage is not a correct business metric.
“We do not look at percentages. This metric is based solely on income and does not take costs into account, and a business cannot be run that way. We have expenses — we invest hundreds of millions of pounds in infrastructure upgrades for the players themselves and in the development of grass-court tennis. You cannot run a sustainable business that has existed for almost 150 years based only on revenue,” said AELTC chair Deborah Jevans.
In addition to financial demands, players are also calling for increased contributions to social security funds and the creation of a Players’ Council to gain more influence in governance. AELTC insists that such a body was already proposed last year, but players themselves rejected it.
The conflict is expected to continue, as similar negotiations over increased payouts are simultaneously being held with Roland Garros and the US Open, which starts at the end of August.
