A group of top tennis players is continuing their protest over prize money distribution at Wimbledon, despite the tournament’s recent 20 percent increase in total prize money. The French Open had initially sparked the demonstration when players raised concerns that prize earnings amounted to just 14.3 percent of the clay-court event’s revenue. Ahead of Wimbledon’s start on Monday, an advisory group representing the players announced that the “direct action protest” would carry on through the first week of the grass-court Grand Slam.
Wimbledon’s total prize pool for 2026 is £64.2 million ($85 million), the highest in the tournament’s history. However, the players maintain that their share of the event’s projected revenue—about 14.4 percent—is still lower than the 14.9 percent they received a decade ago. They also argue that prize money distribution continues to disproportionately favor top male competitors.
American No. 4 Jessica Pegula described the protest as “productive and worked well” in response to Wimbledon’s increase but signaled ongoing dissatisfaction. “We’re very grateful that Wimbledon has raised the prize money, but again it’s not really answering the questions that we’ve been asking,” she said. Pegula said she would monitor developments over the coming weeks, especially with the U.S. Open approaching, to gauge the tournament organizers’ willingness to address players’ concerns.
Other players’ reactions to the protest and prize money adjustments were mixed. No. 6 Alex de Minaur participated in the protest by limiting media appearances, while Aryna Sabalenka, who had joined the French Open action, refrained from joining at Wimbledon. She praised the tournament’s increase as a “big step in the right direction,” emphasizing the importance of recognizing progress. Britain’s top-ranked male player, No. 29 Cam Norrie, pointed to improvements beyond prize money, such as enhanced player facilities, describing the raise as “absolutely huge.”
The four-time Grand Slam champion and No. 15-ranked Jannik Sinner acknowledged the prize money hike but suggested the protest also involves broader issues, including player welfare. However, he declined to discuss Wimbledon’s recent offer to establish a player council or speculate on the protest’s future, emphasizing a desire to focus on tennis instead. Similarly, Novak Djokovic, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, chose to remain neutral, stating he was “not part of it” and expressing no specific views on the matter.
No. 5 Ben Shelton expressed support for the players’ overall cause and cited various concerns but said he did not limit his media time, noting Wimbledon’s longstanding positive treatment of players and recognizing their recent efforts.
The All England Club, organizer of Wimbledon, has expressed surprise and disappointment at the protest, underscoring the complexity of negotiations between tournament officials and players. As the tournament unfolds, the extent and impact of the ongoing protest remain under close observation.