The stars don't back down: Alcaraz, Sabalenka, or Sinner put pressure on the Slams with a new letter calling for reforms

Carlos Navarro | 26 Sep 2025 | 18.49

Alcaraz and Sabalenka, last champions of the US Open, join a petition against the Slams. Source: Getty

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Tennis continues to experience times of change. A turbulent stage seems to be approaching in the upper echelons of the circuit, especially regarding off-court matters. The PTPA was the first to stir up controversy by taking ATP, WTA, and Grand Slam to court, denouncing the existence of a monopoly within the tennis world and putting its major entities on trial. Simultaneously, the world's top players have begun to realize that their share of the pie is not as significant as it should be... and they continue to take steps to rectify this.

Figures like Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka, Jannik Sinner, or Iga Swiatek have recently intensified their efforts. As reported by outlets such as The Athletic or Associated Press, the world's top rackets have signed a new letter demanding changes and improvements for all circuit players. The recipients? None other than the Grand Slams: according to the players, these tournaments do not distribute the percentage of their earnings that should rightfully go to their true protagonists.

This is not the first document signed by the world's best seeking answers together. It follows a letter sent at the beginning of the season requesting fairer distribution of earnings: now, this new letter, signed on July 30th, presents three basic pillars that it rests upon, addressing new aspects that could challenge the status quo for the Slams.

MONEY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND GREATER DECISION-MAKING POWER

According to The Athletic, Larry Scott, former CEO of the WTA, has been mediating for the players and acting as a consultant in meetings with the major tournaments. These meetings took place at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, but seem to have been fruitless: the Slams are still negotiating the three key points requested by names like Alcaraz, Sinner, or Sabalenka.

The first of these points refers to a pension fund to support player sustainability, a measure already in place for the ATP circuit independently. In this case, they demand the creation of a much broader joint fund (Slams, ATP, and WTA) to provide greater stability for a more extensive range of players.

Secondly, players return to one of the most debated issues of recent times: a significant increase in prize money in the Grand Slams. This stems from the meager percentage of their earnings that the major tournaments distribute to players: the increase sought by players would raise the current 16% (approximately) to 22% by 2030, while the Slams argue that they increase the cash prizes to be distributed each season.

Lastly, the world's top rackets demand more decision-making power. How? Through a Players Council that also involves the Grand Slams and allows them to have a say in matters that have been imposed on them until now, citing examples such as the creation of the new mixed doubles at the US Open or the decision to add an extra day of competition in most Slams (excluding Wimbledon, which already starts on a Sunday, with almost three weekends of competition).

It remains to be seen how far the players' demands will go: it seems that this process will extend and linger for quite some time, although the Slams are, for now, open to dialogue. To what extent will they be open to change? That's another story... but, for now, the world's top rackets are already speaking out.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Las estrellas no ceden: Alcaraz, Sabalenka o Sinner meten presión a los Slams con una nueva carta pidiendo reformas