Grand slam tennis organisers have signalled a readiness to compromise with players amid a widening dispute over prize money, pensions, healthcare, and meaningful representation in decision making. During meetings at Wimbledon 2025, representatives of the All England Club and executives from the Australian Open, Roland Garros, and the US Open discussed creating a joint player council that would give athletes a formal voice on scheduling and other operational issues. The slams also indicated, for the first time, a willingness to contribute financially to player pension and healthcare programmes.
These conversations build on initial talks at Roland Garros in May 2025, where leading players – including Jannik Sinner and Coco Gauff – outlined priorities that reach beyond headline prize funds: a greater share of event revenues routed to prize money; contributions toward healthcare, pensions, and maternity support; and guaranteed consultation before major changes to tournament operations. Prize money itself was not probed in depth at Wimbledon, yet players acknowledged the upward trend; the 2025 Wimbledon purse stands at £53.5m, up 7% on last year.
What most animates the player group is the pattern of unilateral scheduling shifts by the majors. Recent examples include Sunday starts in Australia and New York, expanded first‑Sunday play at Wimbledon, and proliferating evening sessions that have produced 3 a.m. finishes in Melbourne and Paris. Many athletes argue such changes compromise recovery, preparation, and competitive fairness. There is also concern that some events are evaluating Saturday starts to create three full broadcast‑friendly weekends.
A Wimbledon spokesperson confirmed that discussions with players occurred during the championships and stressed the tournament’s commitment to constructive engagement and regular feedback from athletes.
Running in parallel is a broader legal effort led by the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), founded by Novak Djokovic. The PTPA has filed an antitrust lawsuit in the United States against the ATP Tour, WTA Tour, and International Tennis Federation, alleging practices that suppress competition, distort prize money, and enforce a restrictive ranking system. An amended complaint lodged in New York in mid July 2025 included a one‑page letter requesting a 90‑day window before naming the four grand slams as co‑defendants. PTPA chief executive Ahmad Nassar called that letter more important than the 180‑page filing it accompanied: a chance to “roll up our sleeves” and deliver solutions ahead of further meetings expected around the US Open and a formal player proposal later in 2025.
