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A letter reportedly signed by the world’s top tennis players calling for higher prize money at Grand Slam events has been welcomed by Chinese tennis star Zheng Qinwen, who described the move as a “really positive” step for the sport.
French sports outlet L’Équipe reported on Wednesday that the top 20 male and female players co-signed the letter, which was sent to the organizers of the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. The players are asking for a “substantial increase” in prize money.
According to the report, the letter argues that profits from the Grand Slam tournaments should be better shared with those who contribute most to the events — the players themselves.
CNN has contacted the four Grand Slam organizers for a response.
Zheng, currently ranked No. 8 in the world, spoke about the letter during the Charleston Open on Thursday. She said the move would benefit more than just the top-ranked players.
“I think that’s going to help all the players, especially those who work hard all year and rely on prize money to keep going,” Zheng said. “They need to pay for good teams to compete well, so this is a really positive thing.”
Zheng also revealed that the idea came after she spoke with Belarusian player Victoria Azarenka about raising concerns over prize money.
“At first, I thought it would be hard to make it happen,” she said. “But they really made progress. I talked to my manager, and it seems like this will help all players.”
American player Emma Navarro, ranked No. 11, also voiced her support. Speaking to Reuters at the Charleston Open, she said the letter was about fixing “unfair pay ratios.”
“I think it’s a good cause,” Navarro said. “It’s important for players to stand together and make sure we’re treated fairly.”
In recent years, prize money at Grand Slams has been rising. Last year’s US Open offered a record-breaking $75 million — a 15% increase from 2023. Wimbledon followed with $65 million (£50 million) in player payouts. This year’s Australian Open offered around $60 million (AUD $96.5 million), nearly 12% more than in 2024. Last year’s French Open had a prize pool of about $59 million (€53.5 million), a 7.8% increase from the year before.
The letter comes amid growing tensions between players and tennis authorities. Just last month, the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) filed lawsuits against the ATP and WTA — which run the men’s and women’s tours — along with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).
The PTPA claims these bodies are monopolizing the sport and ignoring the interests of players. The lawsuits accuse them of acting “as a cartel.”
The ATP and WTA have rejected the accusations and said they would defend their actions strongly. The ITIA acknowledged the legal filings, while the ITF said it would take time to prepare a proper response.
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