ROME — World No. 1 tennis player Aryna Sabalenka said players may boycott the grand slam tournaments to push for a greater share of revenue and improved welfare provisions, speaking at a press conference at the Italian Open in Rome. "I think at some point we will boycott it, yeah. I feel like that's going to be the only way to fight for our rights," Sabalenka said.

In March 2025, players sent their first letter to the four grand slam tournaments requesting a greater percentage of tournament revenues, contributions to player welfare initiatives such as pension funds, and closer consultation through a grand slam player council. The grand slam tournaments have not issued substantial responses to those requests.

Players currently receive 13–15% of the revenue from the grand slam tournaments as prize money. Several top players released a statement saying they were set to receive prize money likely still less than 15% of tournament revenue, short of the 22% they demanded to match ATP and WTA combined 1000 events.

Sabalenka said, "I just really hope that all of the negotiation that we are having, we at some point are going to get to the right decision, to the conclusion that everyone will be happy with." At the Australian Open in January, when asked about the player initiative, she said, "Can I pass?"

Coco Gauff said she could "100 percent see players boycotting a Grand Slam if they took the decision together." She also said, "From the things I've seen with other sports, usually to make massive progress and things like this, it takes a union." The WNBA players' union reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement earlier this year after nearly 17 months of negotiations.

Jannik Sinner accused the grand slam tournaments of not treating players with "respect" by not responding to their concerns. Sinner separately said, "I don't want to comment."

This year's Roland Garros offers an overall prize money pot of €61.7 million, an increase of €5.3 million from last year. Roland Garros's recent prize money announcement claimed prize money had risen 45% since 2019, but adjusted for inflation the increase was 14%. The Australian Open offered a record $80.06 million in prize money this year, the US Open offered $90 million last year, and Wimbledon paid out $72.51 million last year. Ninety percent of Wimbledon's surplus is invested back into the Lawn Tennis Association, amounting to £48.1 million last year.