Media Strike at the French Open
Fans eager to catch the French Open on TV might struggle to hear from their favorite players this year.
A group of top male and female athletes are planning a media strike in response to how the tournament shares its revenue. Reports indicate that several players ranked in the top 20—like Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka, and Coco Gauff—are part of this action.
Despite the pushback from players, tournament director Amelie Mauresmo stated that the revenue percentage split remains unchanged, according to reports.
This strike revolves around the percentage of revenue designated for prize money. Players argue that their cut of the prize pool has dwindled to 14.3%, and they are advocating for it to rise to 22%.
To emphasize their position, the leading players plan to exit the pre-tournament press conference after just 15 minutes.
Additionally, they are expected to avoid interviews with the media covering the French Open, including major rights holders like TNT and Eurosport.
A spokesperson for the French Tennis Federation (FFT) expressed regret over the players’ decision, highlighting that it impacts everyone involved with the tournament, from media to fans.
In recent years, Grand Slam tournaments have increased their prize pools. For instance, the Australian Open saw a 16% rise, the US Open 21%, and Wimbledon 7%.
Yet, despite these increases, they still don’t meet the 22% revenue target that players are seeking. This year, the French Open’s prize pot has grown by 10%, amounting to approximately 5.3 million euros, with the champion set to earn around 2.8 million euros.
The FFT has stated its readiness to engage in discussions about governance, aiming to provide players with more influence in decision-making and improving their welfare.
These conversations might start soon and will likely include FFT president Gilles Moreton and Amelie Mauresmo. Former ATP player and ex-WTA chief executive Larry Scott is also advising the players and is expected to join the discussions.
While these players will perform flash interviews with broadcast teams post-match to avoid fines, connecting with them during the French Open—which begins on May 24th—might prove challenging.
