Belinda Bencic says gamers really feel "unheard" and explains their French Open boycott will not be directed towards the media, however about sending a message to Grand Slam authorities.
After it was pre-arranged that gamers would restrict their pre-tournament press conferences to fifteen minutes at Roland Garros, Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff left the press room on Friday after talking with the media for quarter-hour.
On Saturday, Bencic spoke with the media for the primary time at this yr's French Open. And the Tokyo Olympics gold medalist additionally joined the protest.
For context, gamers consider that Grand Slams aren't pretty allocating their income to prize cash – they need it to go from round 15 p.c to 22 p.c. That's the symbolism in selecting to not communicate with the media for greater than quarter-hour.
When addressing the transfer, Bencic – a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist who has been on the Tour since 2012 – stated that it wasn't nearly prize cash, but in addition about a few one other issues equivalent to pensions, maternity funds, and participant welfare programmes.
Bencic: We really feel unheard and it's time to take motion
“It’s not about punishing the media. We really feel as gamers that we’re not being heard. We haven’t had conferences with the Grand Slams, and we merely really feel unheard. It’s time to take motion. We aren’t being heard. We wish the assembly. We consider the Grand Slams are a part of the tour and will work along with gamers," the 28-year-old Swiss defined.
“We aren’t simply asking for extra prize cash. We wish a fair proportion of the full income. Each time you hear prize cash has elevated, it sounds nice – however the share of income is definitely decrease. It’s not solely about cash. It’s about pensions, maternity funds, and participant welfare programmes.”
After the boycott plans have been revealed, it was additionally reported that the French Open organizers have been prepared to talk with gamers over the revenue-sharing difficulty.
In the meantime, Bencic is about to play on the French Open for the primary time since 2023 and changing into a mom. Within the first spherical, the previous world No. 4 will tackle Sinja Kraus.
Prior to now, Bencic solely twice reached the French Open third spherical.
