Aryna Sabalenková and Jannik Sinner are leading a protest at the French Open due to prize money, player benefits

Italian Jannik Sinner talks to reporters (AP Photo) Paris: Top tennis players spoke at Media Day at the French Open.The previous Friday is marked for pre-championship press conferences, TV station involvement and tournament duties. At Roland Garros, where television rights are divided by territory, Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner, along with several other ATP and WTA stars, escalated matters by limiting and in some cases canceling relationships with rights holders and saying no to one-on-ones with the tournament website.Aryna Sabalenka, seated on a podium deep below the mighty Court Philippe-Chatrier, called time on the press conference with the written media after just eight minutes. During Media Day, the world number one did not move from the united stance of the players for 15 minutes and not at all. “We want to assert our opinion. We (players) are united,” said Sabalenka. “I’m here to talk to you because I respect you. Thank you so much for being here, we all know what’s going on.”What the pros are protesting againstThe players closed the ranks to force the four Grand Slams to increase the share of tournament revenue distributed to players to 22%, in line with what players receive at ATP and WTA 1000 events. They also demanded contributions to pensions, health insurance and maternity benefits, while demanding a greater say in structural decisions shaping the sport.In March of last year, the top 10 men at the time and all but one of the top 10 women (Elena Rybakina) wrote to the Grand Slams outlining these requirements. According to the players, the major never responded.The issue escalated ahead of Roland Garros, when players on both the ATP and WTA Tours expressed collective frustration following the announcement of prize money for the clay-court major. In a media statement issued earlier this month, the players highlighted what they described as the central issue. The players’ share of Roland Garros revenue has dropped from 15.5% in 2024 to a projected 14.9% in 2026, so they have limited Media Day commitments to 15 minutes.Jannik Sinner, 24, already one of the sport’s strongest voices, said the players’ stand was ultimately about respect.“When we have to wait more than a year for even a small response, it’s not nice,” Sinner said of the first of two letters the players sent to the Grand Slams. “We are not only talking about prize money, but also about pensions, which is a very important topic, and also about decision-making.“Now three of the four Grand Slams start on Sunday, but we don’t know if they want to start on Saturday or Friday. We would like to talk about it,” said the Italian.Sabalenka, a four-time major winner, raised the bar. “It’s not about me, it’s about the players that are lower in the rankings,” she said. “It’s not easy to live in this tennis world with the percentage they earn. As world number one, I have to fight for these players.”Novak Djokovic, the 24-time major winner who celebrated his 39th birthday on Friday and has been a regular through Media Day commitments, did not attend the protest.“I wasn’t part of the process, the conversation or the planning,” he said, “but what I can do is repeat my own position, I’ve always been on the side of the players.”Daniil Medvedev, a mercurial individual who fielded six players here, took heart when the players combined.“Probably for the first time, at least in my years on Tour, the players are kind of united,” he said. “We don’t want to hurt ourselves, we don’t want to hurt anybody. We just want a discussion with the Slams, who we think maybe they don’t want to discuss enough.”Protests remain moderate so far, media obligations shortened, broadcasters’ appearances cancelled, statements carefully worded by the game’s biggest stars. Nevertheless, on the eve of the next Roland Garros, the message from the dressing room is unmistakable, it’s not just about money, it’s about securing a place at the table.