Pegula : "We want more tennis players to be able to make a living from this sport with better conditions" Pegula : "Nous voulons que plus de tennistes puissent vivre de ce sport dans de meilleures conditions"

Jessica Pegula arrived at Roland Garros 2026 with a leading role both on and off the court. In addition to being among the top title contenders in Paris, she has become one of the most active voices on the tour in the protests led by players 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 better-ranked players as leaders of the movement, and explained how the coordination between men and women has been forged 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 are looking for with the protests

Pegula advocates for a global 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 the most important thing for us is to enhance the entire tennis ecosystem and prevent everything from being so favorable only to the top part of the circuit."

"The US Open increased prize money last year, but almost all of it 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 up in the circuit."

"All of this goes far beyond the big stars. It's about the overall well-being of the sport and making sure that more players can make a living from tennis in good conditions."

The challenge of uniting all players

"In tennis, the most difficult thing is always to get everyone on the same page. Each player has their own calendar, schedules, and way of looking at things. But I have to admit that telling players they could do less media helped a lot in getting everyone to agree quickly," she commented with a laugh.

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"It was crucial that the circuit's big names were aligned. When you see players like Aryna or Jannik step up and publicly state their thoughts, immediately the rest of the players feel more confident to join in."

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

The possible boycott and pressure measures

"Different ideas are always being considered. Obviously, discussing a boycott is an extreme position, and when you propose too radical measures, many people stop feeling comfortable. That's why we tried to find actions that were realistic and easy to coordinate during a challenging week like the one before 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 situations."

Admiration for Jannik Sinner's dominance

"I don't have an answer for the challenge that Jannik poses right now. I wish I did," Pegula joked.

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

"We discussed it on the podcast ourselves, and we all end up saying that we don't even know what to explain anymore. Before, we thought that what Novak did wouldn't happen again, and now we are 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 really win the tournament."

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

The current situation of Iga Swiatek

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

"Perhaps she isn't as dominant right now as she was 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 economic distribution of tennis, 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 seeks to change the economic future of the professional circuit and provide more stability to players of all categories.

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