“The only way to succeed is to boycott one or two of these": John McEnroe backs Grand Slam boycott for higher player pay

Wednesday, 30 September 2026 at 04:30

John McEnroe has called for tennis players to consider boycotting one or two Grand Slam tournaments as the only realistic way to force the sport's four biggest events to give players a greater share of their revenues.

The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion believes players should have a formal partnership with the majors rather than remaining largely excluded from decisions over the money generated by the sport's biggest tournaments.

Speaking to reporters at the 2026 Laver Cup in London, McEnroe argued that the current distribution of Grand Slam revenues remains a major source of tension in professional tennis. The American has previously been vocal about players receiving a larger share of the money generated by the sport, and he believes stronger action may now be necessary to make that happen.

His comments come as leading players continue to push for changes to the way Grand Slam prize money and revenues are distributed. A group of top-10 players recently brought the public phase of their protest over prize money at the majors to an end, but the wider debate over the players' share of tennis revenue remains unresolved.

McEnroe calls for players to become partners in the Grand Slams

McEnroe believes the fundamental issue is that players are not treated as genuine partners by the four Grand Slam tournaments, despite being central to the value those events generate. The former world No. 1 argued that the current structure leaves players with too little influence over the revenues created by their performances.

"The players should be partners in the majors. The fact that they're not causes friction — they're getting such a small part of the revenue,” McEnroe said during the Laver Cup “The only way to succeed in doing that, in my opinion, is to boycott one or two of these.”

John McEnroe looking seriously into the camera

A boycott of even one Grand Slam would represent an unprecedented escalation in the long-running dispute over player compensation. The four majors — the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open — operate independently from the ATP and WTA Tours and remain the most valuable tournaments in tennis.

McEnroe, 67, has remained closely involved with the sport since his playing career ended. He captained Team World during the first seven editions of the Laver Cup, the annual competition co-founded by Roger Federer, and continues to be involved with the event.

The issue is not limited to prize money, with McEnroe also questioning the extent to which players are able to decide where and when they compete.

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The American argued that players should have significantly greater freedom to choose their schedules rather than being bound by mandatory-event requirements and ranking penalties.

"They should play what they want. If you only play six tournaments but you win them all, you might be No. 1,” the 7-time Grand Slam champion added. “This idea that you should play 20 tournaments and pick your best 15 — or whatever the rules are now — doesn't get out the best in players.”

Both the ATP and WTA Tours have systems requiring leading players to participate in certain events across the Masters 1000 and 500 categories, with ranking penalties possible in some circumstances when players withdraw. The WTA has also established a separate council this year to examine those commitments and the demands placed on players by the calendar.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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