Novak Djokovic commended Aryna Sabalenka for ‘stepping up’ for players’ rights (Image: Getty)
Novak Djokovic has voiced his support for Aryna Sabalenka after she suggested players could boycott the four Grand Slam tournaments if it were the only way to fight for their rights. Both Djokovic and Sabalenka were part of a group of top ATP and WTA players who co-signed a letter to the four Grand Slam tournaments in March 2025, asking for a greater percentage of tournament revenue, contributions to welfare and benefit schemes, and a greater say in decisions that affect them, including scheduling.
A recent statement released on behalf of this player cohort expressed “deep” and “collective” disappointment over the French Open’s recent prize money announcement. While organisers confirmed an increase in the prize pot, the group noted that players’ share of revenue had actually reduced. The players have requested a share of around 22 per cent of Grand Slam tournament revenue, in line with joint ATP and WTA 1000 events, including this week’s Italian Open.
Off the back of this statement, WTA No. 1 Sabalenka floated the idea of a boycott. “I feel like the show is on us. I feel like without us there wouldn’t be a tournament and there wouldn’t be that entertainment,” she said earlier this week in Rome. “I think at some point we will boycott it, yeah. I feel like that’s going to be the only way to kind of, like, fight for our rights.”
Coco Gauff also discussed a potential boycott and explained that their goal was more about fighting for lower-ranked players who live “paycheck to paycheck”. ATP No. 1 Jannik Sinner has now claimed that players “don’t feel respect” from the Slams, and said that a year on from the aforementioned letter, “we are not even close to conclusion of what we would like to have.”
While Djokovic himself has not openly discussed joining a potential boycott, the 24-time Grand Slam champion has always been vocal about fighting for players’ rights. He previously headed up the ATP Player Council and co-founded the Professional Tennis Players Association – a breakaway union – in 2020, stepping away from the organisation earlier this year.
“I think you’ve been around the tour long enough to, I think, remember the times when I was a president of the council, when I was also forming PTPA, which is now six years ago. So you guys know my position on that. I’ve said it many times. I don’t need to talk about that too long,” the world No. 4 told the media in Rome.
Aryna Sabalenka recently claimed players could boycott the Grand Slams to fight for their rights (Image: Getty)
“Players know that they’ll always have my support, and that’s all. The new generations are coming up. I’m glad that there is willingness from the leaders of our sport, like Sabalenka, to really step up and really understand the dynamics of how the tennis politics works and understand the nuances and really what needs to be done not only for her benefit and well-being, but for everyone. That’s true leadership for me, and I think she needs to maintain that. I salute that. That’s all I have to say about that.
“We’re all part of the same sport. We all try to elevate the game, whether it’s players, tournaments, governing bodies. Unfortunately, oftentimes, there is a conflict of interest that some people don’t want to address. I think that’s where the players really have the power. I’m always supportive of the stronger player position in the ecosystem.
Although Djokovic was one of the signatories of the letter sent to the Slams last year, he has been less involved in ongoing conversations between top players and organisers of these tournaments. “I am watching more from the side, to be honest. I haven’t been part of those meetings and conversations. But my position is very clear: I support the players and always will support stronger player position in the ecosystem, as I said,” he added.
While the players’ position in the tennis ecosystem has hit headlines again following the recent French Open prize money announcement and boycott talks, Djokovic pointed out that it wasn’t a new topic. The Serbian superstar turns 39 this month. He’s been on tour for many years and has often discussed the need for better player representation, especially for those lower down the ranks who struggle to make a living. This influenced his decision to co-found the PTPA.
“Now is the time to talk about it. I do like the fact that there is more conversations happening on this. It needs to be, because players’ position is not where it needs to be with Slams, with tours. Just overall, it’s not there,” he explained.
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“Also in the past, what I notice is many times people would twist particularly my words and say I’m requesting myself for more money, even when I was winning Slams. You guys like to put headlines of the Grand Slam winner gets so-and-so, never more in history. But we are not talking about the lower-ranked players, the tier one, the ground base level of the tennis players that are struggling. They’re leaving tennis because of no funding.
“We are, I think, the only global sport, if you see all the global sports, I think we’re the only ones that are in this particular situation where we don’t have a certain financial, say, gains or guarantees for the lower-ranked players. I don’t know if it changed since whatever, a few years.”
The fragmented nature of the sport makes things even more difficult. The ATP and WTA Tours stage their own events but have no real influence over the four Grand Slam tournaments. “Tennis, as any big global sport, is a big business. It’s not that simple. Of course, it needs to be approached from all sides with willingness to work together and figure out what the formula is,” Djokovic argued.
“The players within the player council have really absolutely no power. I’ve been there. I was president of the council. I’ve been there many years. In public, you may think there is some power by electing the representative of players, then there’s a board, the whole structure is just conceptualised in a certain way where players are just not able to get what they want. That’s hence why the top players come together and try to negotiate directly with Slams, which I think is the right way. You have to try to figure out ways to benefit.”
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