Novak Djokovic has spoken after Aryna Sabalenka recommended gamers might boycott the largest tournaments on the tennis calendar.
Novak Djokovic recommended Aryna Sabalenka for ‘stepping up’ for gamers’ rights (Picture: Getty)
Novak Djokovic has voiced his assist for Aryna Sabalenka after she recommended gamers might boycott the 4 Grand Slam tournaments if it have been the one option to battle for his or her rights. Each Djokovic and Sabalenka have been a part of a bunch of prime ATP and WTA gamers who co-signed a letter to the 4 Grand Slam tournaments in March 2025, asking for a better share of event income, contributions to welfare and profit schemes, and a better say in choices that have an effect on them, together with scheduling.
A current assertion launched on behalf of this participant cohort expressed “deep” and “collective” disappointment over the French Open’s current prize cash announcement. Whereas organisers confirmed a rise within the prize pot, the group famous that gamers’ share of income had truly diminished. The gamers have requested a share of round 22 per cent of Grand Slam event income, in keeping with joint ATP and WTA 1000 occasions, together with this week’s Italian Open.
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Off the again of this assertion, WTA No. 1 Sabalenka floated the thought of a boycott. “I really feel just like the present is on us. I really feel like with out us there would not be a event and there would not be that leisure,” she mentioned earlier this week in Rome. “I believe sooner or later we’ll boycott it, yeah. I really feel like that is going to be the one option to type of, like, battle for our rights.”
Coco Gauff additionally mentioned a possible boycott and defined that their aim was extra about combating for lower-ranked gamers who reside “paycheck to paycheck”. ATP No. 1 Jannik Sinner has now claimed that gamers “don’t really feel respect” from the Slams, and mentioned {that a} yr on from the aforementioned letter, “we’re not even near conclusion of what we want to have.”
Whereas Djokovic himself has not brazenly mentioned becoming a member of a possible boycott, the 24-time Grand Slam champion has at all times been vocal about combating for gamers’ rights. He beforehand headed up the ATP Participant Council and co-founded the Skilled Tennis Gamers Affiliation – a breakaway union – in 2020, stepping away from the organisation earlier this yr.
“I believe you’ve got been across the tour lengthy sufficient to, I believe, bear in mind the instances once I was a president of the council, once I was additionally forming PTPA, which is now six years in the past. So that you guys know my place on that. I’ve mentioned it many instances. I need not speak about that too lengthy,” the world No. 4 informed the media in Rome.
Aryna Sabalenka not too long ago claimed gamers might boycott the Grand Slams to battle for his or her rights (Picture: Getty)
“Gamers know that they will at all times have my assist, and that is all. The brand new generations are arising. I am glad that there’s willingness from the leaders of our sport, like Sabalenka, to actually step up and actually perceive the dynamics of how the tennis politics works and perceive the nuances and actually what must be finished not just for her profit and well-being, however for everybody. That is true management for me, and I believe she wants to take care of that. I salute that. That is all I’ve to say about that.
“We’re all a part of the identical sport. All of us attempt to elevate the sport, whether or not it is gamers, tournaments, governing our bodies. Sadly, oftentimes, there’s a battle of curiosity that some individuals do not wish to tackle. I believe that is the place the gamers actually have the ability. I am at all times supportive of the stronger participant place within the ecosystem.
Though Djokovic was one of many signatories of the letter despatched to the Slams final yr, he has been much less concerned in ongoing conversations between prime gamers and organisers of those tournaments. “I’m watching extra from the facet, to be sincere. I have not been a part of these conferences and conversations. However my place may be very clear: I assist the gamers and at all times will assist stronger participant place within the ecosystem, as I mentioned,” he added.
Whereas the gamers’ place within the tennis ecosystem has hit headlines once more following the current French Open prize cash announcement and boycott talks, Djokovic identified that it wasn’t a brand new matter. The Serbian celebrity turns 39 this month. He’s been on tour for a few years and has typically mentioned the necessity for higher participant illustration, particularly for these decrease down the ranks who battle to make a residing. This influenced his resolution to co-found the PTPA.
“Now’s the time to speak about it. I do like the truth that there may be extra conversations occurring on this. It must be, as a result of gamers’ place will not be the place it must be with Slams, with excursions. Simply general, it is not there,” he defined.
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“Additionally previously, what I discover is many instances individuals would twist significantly my phrases and say I am requesting myself for extra money, even once I was profitable Slams. You guys wish to put headlines of the Grand Slam winner will get so-and-so, by no means extra in historical past. However we’re not speaking concerning the lower-ranked gamers, the tier one, the bottom base stage of the tennis gamers which can be struggling. They’re leaving tennis due to no funding.
“We’re, I believe, the one world sport, when you see all the worldwide sports activities, I believe we’re the one ones which can be on this explicit state of affairs the place we do not have a sure monetary, say, positive factors or ensures for the lower-ranked gamers. I do not know if it modified since no matter, a number of years.”
The fragmented nature of the game makes issues much more tough. The ATP and WTA Excursions stage their very own occasions however don’t have any actual affect over the 4 Grand Slam tournaments. “Tennis, as any large world sport, is an enormous enterprise. It is not that straightforward. In fact, it must be approached from all sides with willingness to work collectively and work out what the system is,” Djokovic argued.
“The gamers inside the participant council have actually completely no energy. I have been there. I used to be president of the council. I have been there a few years. In public, chances are you’ll assume there may be some energy by electing the consultant of gamers, then there is a board, the entire construction is simply conceptualised in a sure approach the place gamers are simply not capable of get what they need. That is therefore why the highest gamers come collectively and attempt to negotiate straight with Slams, which I believe is the suitable approach. You must strive to determine methods to profit.”
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