Jannik Sinner might be known as one of the calmest guys on tour, but he’s pretty frustrated with tennis’s biggest tournaments right now.
The world No. 1 is calling out the Grand Slams for basically ignoring players when it comes to prize money and benefits. And honestly, when you look at the numbers, it’s easy to see why he’s annoyed.
Here’s the thing that’ll surprise you: players only get about 12-15% of the revenue that Grand Slams generate.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jannik Sinner | 24 | 15,405 | 33 - 3 |
Compare that to the NFL, where players get a much bigger slice of the pie at major events. It’s a pretty stark difference.
Regular ATP and WTA tournaments actually do better by their players, giving them around 22% of revenue. But since the Grand Slams make way more money overall, that’s where players would really feel the impact of any changes.
The Letter That Started It All
Earlier this year, something unprecedented happened. The top 10 women and 10 of the top 11 men got together and wrote a formal letter to all four Grand Slams.
They weren’t just asking for more prize money. They wanted better benefits across the board – things like healthcare, pensions, and maternity pay.
It was pretty remarkable to see that level of unity among top players.
Sinner gave The Guardian an update on how those talks have been going at the Paris Masters. Spoiler alert: not great.
"We had good conversations with the Grand Slams at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, so it was disappointing when they said they cannot act on our proposals until other issues are resolved."
Basically, the tournaments are saying their hands are tied until they sort out other stuff first. Sinner’s not buying it.
"Calendar and scheduling are important topics, but there is nothing stopping the slams from addressing player welfare benefits like pensions and healthcare right now."
More Than Just Money
What’s interesting is that players aren’t just focused on prize money. They want the Grand Slams to help fund things that would make a real difference in players’ lives.
Healthcare coverage. Retirement planning. Support for players starting families.
Right now, the ATP and WTA tours have to handle all of that themselves. And the women’s tour especially struggles since it generates less revenue than the men’s side.
"The Grand Slams are the biggest events and generate most of the revenue in tennis, so we are asking for a fair contribution to support all players, and for prize money that better reflects what these tournaments earn."
According to The Guardian, things got a bit tense at Wimbledon when tour representatives asked to see financial details. The Grand Slams basically said no.
That lack of transparency isn’t helping anyone find common ground.
Why Sinner’s Voice Matters
Here’s what makes Sinner’s advocacy even more impressive: he recently crossed $50 million in career prize money.
The guy’s set for life financially. He doesn’t need to fight this battle for himself.
But he’s using his platform to push for changes that would help lower-ranked players who are struggling to make ends meet. That’s pretty admirable when you think about it.
His rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz continues to be tennis’s biggest draw – and probably its most lucrative matchup. They’re even planning another exhibition in Seoul next year.
Sinner could easily just focus on his own career and bank account. Instead, he’s taking on tennis’s power brokers on behalf of players who don’t have his leverage.
The question now is whether the Grand Slams will actually listen – or if this standoff will continue into 2025.
