Shelton explains the new boycott at Wimbledon: "It's not just a money issue"

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Ben Shelton has played in the days leading up to Wimbledon 2026 an exhibition tournament in which he has come out in favor of the boycott that players will carry out to protest the low earnings they receive at Grand Slams, something they also did at Roland Garros in search of a big change within the circuit.

It is true that Wimbledon has increased its prize money by around 20% compared to 2025, but according to the players, it is not enough, as it represents less than 15% of the total revenue generated by the tournament. Therefore, when they reach the 15-minute mark in their press conferences, they will leave the room, just as they did in Paris, something that Shelton himself talked about in an interview with Tennis Head.

“This is done from the revenue perspective, but also from the perspective of the players' well-being. The US Open is basically a three-week event at the moment, 21 days, and things that concern the players. From the outside, many people simply see it as a money matter. It's not just a money issue. For me, it is more about other decisions being made without player participation, about truly having a player advising, so to speak, at the Grand Slams and having a voice and a vote," he concluded.

Shelton criticizes the ATP calendar

In addition, Ben's criticism focused mainly on the calendar, another of the topics most criticized by players. "I fully support the players, obviously. An important aspect is having a voice and vote in the decisions that really affect our lives, such as, for example, how many days tournaments last, if an extra day is added and what the implications are," he acknowledged.

In fact, Shelton believes that many of the injuries of the players come from this demand in the calendar. "It's disappointing to see. I think those 12-day events are exhausting. It's no secret that the tennis circuit has become, painful as it is to say, unsustainable for many players. Also for many great talents, players who are at the top of the sport," he said referring to names like Jack Draper or Arthur Fils, who are suffering a lot physically.

For now, these complaints are not reaching a successful outcome, but more and more tournaments are being affected by this decision of the players, and more and more names are joining the cause. Therefore, perhaps this is a turning point in the circuit, or the beginning of even more devastating boycotts by ATP and WTA players, who consider themselves the main protagonists of the sport and the ones who get the smallest slice of the pie.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Shelton explica el nuevo boicot en Wimbledon: "No es solo una cuestión de dinero"