Players Protest at Wimbledon

By Sanjay Menon — 27 June 2026 — 3 min read

Players Protest at Wimbledon

Leading tennis players, including Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner, are limiting their media appearances at the All England Club this week. This action is a protest regarding the prize money offered at Grand Slam tournaments. The players are advocating for a larger share of tournament revenue to be allocated to prize money, in addition to increased contributions for welfare benefits such as pensions and maternity leave.

The protest involves players restricting their media commitments to 15 minutes. This duration is intended to symbolise the 15% of revenue that, broadly speaking, Grand Slams allocate to prize money. Players’ representatives have stated that this decision was made after extensive consultation with players across both tours.

They are requesting that each Grand Slam allocate a 16% share of their revenue to prize money. The All England Club has already announced a 20% increase in its overall prize money this year, which is described as the largest annual increase in the event’s history.

Player Reactions and Previous Protests

Aryna Sabalenka, a four-time major champion, expressed her hope that players will not need to resort to boycotting media duties again after Wimbledon. She emphasised that these actions are for the benefit of the tour and other players who face financial difficulties, particularly those lower in the rankings.

Defending men’s champion Jannik Sinner chose to focus solely on tennis during his brief English-language media session before switching to Italian, avoiding questions about the protest. Other prominent players, such as defending women’s champion Iga Swiatek and former world number one Daniil Medvedev, also limited their media engagements to one main news conference and a few broadcast interviews.

This marks the second consecutive Grand Slam where players have protested perceived inaction, following a similar demonstration at the French Open last month. Daniil Medvedev suggested that the actions at Roland Garros might have influenced Wimbledon‘s response. He noted that players observe a lower percentage of revenue allocated to prize money compared to a decade ago and are pushing for what they consider a fair share.

Not all players are participating in the protest at Wimbledon. Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic, for instance, held a 15-minute news conference and spoke to numerous television outlets. Australia’s sixth seed, Alex de Minaur, who participated in the French Open protests, decided against joining the Wimbledon protest, acknowledging what he described as a significant step in the right direction by Wimbledon.

Germany’s Alexander Zverev, who won his first major title in Paris recently, also stepped back from the protest. He stated his desire to remain part of the players’ movement but recognised that the media cannot directly influence the prize money situation. He opted for a half-hour media session, still hoping for changes in tennis.

On Saturday, some protesting players were seen timing their news conferences, with agents reportedly encouraging moderators to conclude them. Sally Bolton, the All England Club‘s chief executive, expressed surprise and disappointment regarding the protest.

The All England Club believes its increased contribution is fair and also highlights investments in improving player facilities. First-round losers at Wimbledon this year are set to earn £80,000.

Djokovic’s Status and Sinner’s Trophy Return

Novak Djokovic recently withdrew from an exhibition match against Karen Khachanov, raising questions about his fitness ahead of Wimbledon. He traditionally participates in the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic as part of his preparation for the third Grand Slam of the year. The Grand Slam champion withdrew without providing a reason.

Despite this, Djokovic was seen practicing at Wimbledon, suggesting he intends to compete in the tournament. He is the No. 7 seed at Wimbledon and has not competed since his third-round match at Roland Garros.

Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner has ceremonially returned the Wimbledon men’s singles trophy to the All England Club as he prepares to defend his title. He was presented with the trophy on Centre Court last year. The original trophy, acquired by the All England Club in 1887, remains the club’s permanent possession, with champions receiving replicas. The actual trophy is returned to the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum after the championship concludes.

Source: bbc.com