World number one tennis star, Aryna Sabalenka, has voiced her opinion on the controversial topic of prize money distribution in professional tennis. The Belarusian athlete feels that the current system does not adequately reward players for their efforts and has called for a reconsideration of how tournament earnings are allocated.
Fresh from her triumph over Viktoriya Tomova in the 32nd round of the Miami Open, Sabalenka did not hold back in expressing her views on the financial aspects of professional tennis. Despite her focus on her game, Sabalenka has been quick to pick up on the implications of the ongoing Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) lawsuit against global tennis governing bodies.
She revealed her wish for not just women’s tennis players, but all professional tennis players, to command a larger slice of the earnings pie at tournaments and Grand Slams in particular. Sabalenka believes that the current allocation system is not reflective of the efforts put in by players and is inconsistent with the practices in other sports.
“I haven’t had much time to delve into the details of the lawsuit,” Sabalenka admitted. “However, I firmly believe that it’s only fair for players to receive a larger percentage of the prize money from tournaments and Grand Slams. If you look at how other sports handle this, you’ll see a different picture.”
Sabalenka is not alone in her views. Rising tennis sensation, Coco Gauff, has previously spoken out about the disparity in prize money distribution, establishing the issue as a widespread concern among tennis stars. Gauff echoed Sabalenka’s sentiments, stating that from her perspective, the biggest issue was the percentage of the revenue in prize money.
“I’m a professional athlete, I get paid fairly well to do what I love,” Gauff acknowledged. “But if you compare it to other sports, the work-reward ratio is disproportionate. However, I can’t sit here and complain. There are people who deal with much more challenging situations in this world.”
Gauff also highlighted the gender disparity when it comes to prize money in tennis, advocating for equal earnings for men and women. She further suggested that the sport needs to improve on its visibility and representation, hinting at the larger issues of gender inequality within professional tennis.
The stand taken by Sabalenka and Gauff on this issue has once again placed the spotlight on the ongoing debate about financial fairness within professional sports, and tennis in particular. With the PTPA lawsuit still underway, it remains to be seen how these concerns will be addressed by the global tennis governing bodies.
