Top tennis players push Grand Slam tournaments again in bid for more money and more say

A set of top-10 tennis gamers despatched a second letter to the 4 Grand Slam tournaments to push for a larger share of revenues — aiming to rise from the present 16% to 22% by 2030 — contributions to pension, well being and maternity advantages that may go from zero to $12 million yearly by that very same 12 months, and larger say by way of a brand new participant council.

This letter, signed by stars comparable to Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Jack Draper — however not, in contrast to the unique letter despatched by gamers to the Slam occasions in March, Novak Djokovic — was dated July 30.

The second letter, which was seen this week by The Related Press, set out particular benchmarks for methods during which the game’s 4 most prestigious, and worthwhile, tournaments may supply more cash and affect to the athletes.

The gamers are working with Larry Scott as a guide; he was once the chairman and CEO of the WTA ladies’s tennis tour and, later, ran the Pac-12 convention in American faculty sports activities.

There have been conferences amongst Scott, some gamers and the leaders of the All England Membership, which runs Wimbledon; the French Tennis Federation, which runs Roland-Garros; Tennis Australia, which runs the Australian Open; and the U.S. Tennis Affiliation, which runs the U.S. Open.

All 4 had been requested to answer to the July 30 letter, and all 4 did.

The USTA’s response, dated Aug. 18 and obtained this week by the AP, was signed by Brian Vahaly, the group’s interim co-CEO, and Stacey Allaster, the USTA’s chief government {of professional} tennis who simply accomplished her final U.S. Open as match director.

“As you’re conscious, we now have all the time been prepared to extend compensation for gamers — as evidenced by the 57% development of the U.S. Open purse over the previous 5 years — notably when further collaboration on the a part of the gamers helps to create further income,” Vahaly and Allaster wrote. “For instance, this 12 months’s vital enhance in compensation to $90 million displays the addition of an additional day to the primary draw singles competitors and the ensuing contribution made by gamers.” U.S. Open singles champions Sabalenka and Alcaraz every obtained a file $5 million this month.

Vahaly and Allaster additionally wrote that they needed “to reiterate our dedication to participating in direct, sincere and clear discussions with the gamers to construct a stronger future for your complete tennis ecosystem — together with a more healthy calendar, enhanced participant session, and larger monetary worth for all concerned.” The March letter from gamers to the 4 Slam hosts got here not lengthy after the gamers’ affiliation co-founded by Djokovic — the Skilled Tennis Gamers’ Affiliation (PTPA) — filed an antitrust lawsuit in opposition to the ladies’s and males’s skilled excursions in federal courtroom in New York. Djokovic was not listed as one of many plaintiffs.

That antitrust submitting seeks more cash for gamers, saying too little of the revenues find yourself within the athletes’ palms, and lays out a collection of different complaints about the way in which the game is run. In Could, the WTA and ATP excursions collectively filed a movement to dismiss the case in opposition to them.

The unique case didn’t record the 4 Grand Slam match organizers as defendants, however they’ve been added, the PTPA introduced this week.

“This can be a obligatory subsequent step to ensure accountability from all events,” the PTPA stated, “and speed up long-overdue reform throughout your complete tennis ecosystem.”