“We do it for the Tour, not for ourselves”: Aryna Sabalenka defends Wimbledon prize money protest stance
WTASaturday, 27 June 2026 at 20:30
Aryna Sabalenka used her Wimbledon press conference to reiterate the players’ position in the ongoing dispute over Grand Slam revenue distribution, as tensions continue over prize money allocation and coordinated media protest measures during the tournament.
The world No. 1 held a shortened media session in line with the collective player action seen earlier this season at Roland Garros, where leading players limited their pre-tournament press commitments as part of wider negotiations with tournament organisers.
The debate centres on the share of tournament revenue returned to players, with Wimbledon’s £64.2 million prize money pot representing approximately 15% of total event revenue, below the 16% level — around £70 million — that players have reportedly been seeking.
Against that backdrop, Sabalenka defended both the intent behind the protest and the broader economic argument driving it, while acknowledging the tournament’s recent financial increase.
“It’s a great start” — Sabalenka calls for resolution over revenue split
Sabalenka said the increase in prize money represents progress, but stressed that the broader issue of revenue distribution across tennis remains unresolved.
"It's a great start they raise the prize money. It's an amazing start," the 4-time Grand slam champion said at press conference. "If you look over the last 10 years, if you compare the prize money to 2016, it's kind of like the same (as a percentage) because it went down,"
Following the protest actions in Paris — where players also limited press conferences to 15 minutes during the pre-tournament week — the same approach has been maintained at Wimbledon as part of an effort to pressure stakeholders and express dissatisfaction with what players see as insufficient progress in revenue sharing.
"I really hope we can finally get to the table and really get it done, come to a conclusion that everyone's going to be happy with. Hopefully we'll never have to do it again."
Wimbledon has pointed to a record investment cycle, highlighting that this year’s total prize money marks the largest increase in the tournament’s history, alongside hundreds of millions of pounds spent on facility upgrades as part of a broader three-year transformation programme.
“We do it for the tour” — Sabalenka defends player stance
The player protest has also prompted scrutiny over timing, particularly given that many of the sport’s top earners are multimillionaires, while fans face rising costs for attendance and services at major events.
Sabalenka rejected the suggestion that the movement is self-interested, instead framing it as a collective action aimed at improving conditions for lower-ranked players. "We do it for the Tour, we don't do it for ourselves," the world No. 1 said. "We do it for the rest of the players who are suffering to even hire a coach. It's not an easy life for lower-ranked players."
"I'm more than sure the crowd understand. I mean, we're playing matches, we're there, we're competing, we're bringing the show. Now we are just limiting our media. We're just trying to get to something that everyone is happy with."
Ranking pressure ahead of Wimbledon
Sabalenka arrives at Wimbledon after a mixed grass-court build-up, having played only one warm-up event at the Berlin Ladies Open, where she reached the semi-finals but suffered a heavy final-set defeat to Jessica Pegula, including a third-set bagel.
That result followed a similar pattern to Roland Garros, where she also ended her campaign with a one-sided final-set loss to Diana Shnaider, raising questions about late-match consistency in recent weeks.
Despite that, she remains world No. 1 entering Wimbledon but faces additional pressure in the rankings race, with 780 points to defend from her semi-final run in 2025. Elena Rybakina remains a direct threat to the top ranking, depending on her own Wimbledon performance and Sabalenka’s progress through the draw.
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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