Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the Rome Masters on May 8, Sinner expressed disappointment with Roland Garros' recently announced prize money distribution plan.
I think the players are contributing more than they receive in return. This is not just a problem for the top group, but for all male and female players," Sinner said.
According to announcements from the Roland Garros organizers, the total prize fund for 2026 reached 72.6 million USD (approximately 1,785 billion VND), an increase of 9.5% compared to last year. However, the proportion of prize money distributed to players on the total revenue of the tournament is only 14.9%, lower than the level of 15.5% in 2024.
Sinner said that players in the top 10 have jointly signed a letter to the Grand Slam organizers requesting to improve the treatment regime. The Italian player emphasized that in many other sports, petitions from top athletes are often responded to faster.
Controversy related to prize money at major tennis tournaments has lasted for many years. In March 2025, the Professional Tennis Players Association - an organization promoted by Novak Djokovic - spoke out accusing tennis governing bodies of "systematic violations" and not ensuring the rights of players.
Many other top stars also publicly supported the request to increase the prize distribution ratio. World No. 1 female tennis player Aryna Sabalenka believes that tennis players deserve higher revenue rates because they are the factors that create attraction for the tournament.
Meanwhile, Coco Gauff said she is ready to support the boycott option if the players reach a consensus. Elena Rybakina also agreed, while emphasizing that high taxes significantly reduce the player's actual bonus.
In the opposite direction, Iga Swiatek believes that dialogue is still a more appropriate solution than boycotting major tournaments.
Djokovic also spoke out in support of the current generation of tennis players in demanding better rights. The Serbian tennis player believes that the operating structure of professional tennis has not changed commensurate with the development of this sport, causing tennis players not to have enough voice in important decisions.
