Pegula: "We Want More Tennis Players to Be Able to Make a Living from this Sport with Better Conditions"

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 23 May 2026 | 09.12

Jessica Pegula explains tennis players' protests. Photo: gettyimages

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Jessica Pegula arrived at Roland Garros 2026 with a leading role both on and off the court. In addition to being one of the main contenders for the title in Paris, she has become one of the most active voices on the tour in the players' protests against the current economic distribution of the Grand Slams.

During the media day of the Parisian tournament, Jessica Pegula extensively discussed the need to improve the tennis ecosystem, defended the role of top-ranked players as leaders of the movement, and explained how the coordination between men and women has been orchestrated to pressure the Grand Slams. The American also analyzed Jannik Sinner's current dominance and the much more open situation in the women's draw.

This is how Pegula explained at Roland Garros 2026 what the players seek with the protests

Pegula advocates for an overall improvement of the tennis ecosystem

"The goal is not just for the top players to earn more money. Obviously, players who fill stadiums and generate audience should be rewarded for that, but our main aim is to enhance the entire tennis ecosystem and prevent everything from being so favorable only for the top part of the circuit."

"The US Open increased the prize money last year, but almost everything was allocated to the later rounds, and that's not exactly what we are asking for. We want lower-ranked players to have more opportunities to build a sustainable career, to develop, and to make their way on the circuit."

"All this goes beyond the big stars. It's about the overall well-being of the sport and ensuring that more players can make a decent living from tennis."

The difficulty of uniting all players

"In tennis, the most challenging part is always getting everyone on the same page. Each player has their own schedule, timings, and way of seeing things. But I have to admit that telling players they could do less press helped a lot in getting everyone to agree quickly," she laughed.

"It was crucial that the big names on the tour were aligned. When you see players like Aryna or Jannik stepping up and publicly speaking their minds, the rest of the players automatically feel more confident to join in."

"You can't force anyone to do something they're not comfortable with. The key is to communicate, explain the situation, and try to find a middle ground where everyone can feel represented."

The potential boycott and pressure measures

"Different ideas are always being considered. Obviously, discussing a boycott is an extreme position, and when you propose very radical measures, many people stop feeling comfortable. That's why we have tried to find actions that were realistic and easy to coordinate during such a challenging week as the lead-up to a Grand Slam."

"The most important thing was to show unity between ATP and WTA and demonstrate that men and women can work together in these types of situations."

Admiration for Jannik Sinner's dominance

"I don't have an answer to the issue of Jannik right now. I wish I did," Pegula joked.

"With Carlos out of the tournament, it feels like the inevitable may end up happening. Of course, in tennis, anything can happen, especially in best-of-five-set matches, but the level he's displaying is incredible. Honestly, it's hard to find words to describe it."

"We discussed it ourselves on the podcast, and we all ended up saying that we don't even know how to explain it anymore. We used to think that what Novak did wouldn't happen again, and now we're seeing something similar once more."

A much more open women's draw in Paris

"In the women's draw, there seem to be many more options. Elena won Rome, Marta won Madrid, Aryna is playing incredibly in Grand Slams, Coco always performs well here, Elina is in great form... There are many players who can truly win the tournament."

"I think that's very positive for women's tennis because there are countless players capable of competing for major titles and constantly challenging the favorites."

Iga Swiatek's current situation

"In recent years, Iga was the best clay-court player and completely dominated this surface. That was tough for everyone else. I don't think she has lost her aura. She's still a multiple Grand Slam champion and an incredible player. It's just that when someone dominates so much, everyone else starts working specifically to find a way to beat her."

"Perhaps she's not as dominant now as in those seasons, but honestly, I don't think anyone wants to face her here considering all the experience she has at Roland Garros."

In a Roland Garros 2026 marked by the growing debate on the tennis economic distribution, Jessica Pegula has established herself as one of the most influential voices in the locker room. While seeking her big sporting opportunity in Paris, the American also aims to lead a movement that intends to change the economic future of the professional circuit, providing more stability for players in all categories.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Pegula: "Queremos que más tenistas puedan vivir de este deporte con mejores condiciones"