Player Revenue Dispute
Wimbledon Players Suspend Media Protest Following Constructive Talks on Prize Money, Governance
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Key Points
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The protest group is known as Project RedEye, led by top players including Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka, with the action gaining momentum at the French Open before Wimbledon.
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AELTC has pledged to deliver end-of-summer proposals that are modeled after the French Open's framework, addressing prize money tied to tournament income, contributions to player welfare funds, and the establishment of a formal grand slam player committee.
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Even with a 20% uplift to £64.2 million, the current prize-pot split means Wimbledon allocates about 14.4% of revenue to prize money; players are pushing for 16% this year and an eventual 22% by 2030, highlighting the gap between the payout and revenue share.
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The 2026 prize-money package includes champion prizes of £3.6 million and first-round losers guaranteed £80,000, illustrating the scale of the distribution critics say still underdelivers relative to revenue growth.
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Coco Gauff is among the leaders cited in the broader campaign, joining Sinner and Sabalenka in the effort to secure a greater revenue share and governance voice for players.
Top tennis players at Wimbledon have suspended their media protest and agreed to resume full press duties during the Championships, after weekend talks with All England Club officials were described as
How Project RedEye Turned Press Rooms Into a Protest Tool
The player alliance known as Project RedEye — led by world No. 1s Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka, plus Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula — had threatened to cap all media appearances at 15 minutes per session. The number was symbolic. Associated Press reported that Wimbledon's current prize fund sits at roughly 14.4% of revenue — just shy of the 15% baseline players initially demanded.
The group formed in May 2026 after players labeled a 9.5% French Open prize increase
Wimbledon Raised the Prize Pot — Players Say It's Still Not Enough
The All England Club announced a record £64.2 million prize fund for 2026 — a 20% jump worth £10.7 million more than 2025. Champions take home £3.6 million each. First-round losers now earn £80,000, a 21.2% increase. AELTC Chair Deborah Jevans called it the
Players disagree with that framing. They argue that £64.2 million is just 14.4% of Wimbledon's projected £446 million revenue. Associated Press reported that Project RedEye wants an immediate move to 16% — worth roughly £71.2 million — and a graduated path to 22% by 2030. That gap, they say, is what the truce must eventually close.
AELTC Promises Formal Proposals by End of Summer
The truce came with conditions. The AELTC pledged to deliver a formal proposal before the end of the 2026 summer season. That package is expected to include three things: a Grand Slam Player Committee with consultative powers, a welfare fund covering pensions and maternity leave modeled on ATP and WTA structures, and prize money linked to tournament income — similar to the French Open's framework.
AELTC CEO Sally Bolton said after the talks:
US Open Could Be the Next Flashpoint If Talks Stall
The Wimbledon truce is fragile. Houston Chronicle reported that if the AELTC fails to deliver a concrete proposal by August, Project RedEye leaders — including Jessica Pegula — have signaled the 15-minute media cap could return at the 2026 US Open, or be replaced by a stricter
Former WTA CEO Larry Scott, who is advising Project RedEye, has modeled the financial case for revenue-linked pay. Andy Roddick argued on his Served podcast that the fight isn't about the sport's biggest earners — it's about players ranked 100 to 250, who face rising costs in travel and coaching. The Guardian described the current state plainly: a
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