The Grand Slam tennis tournaments have agreed to establish a formal Player Advisory Council. This joint initiative aims to defuse an ongoing dispute with players regarding prize money.
This agreement could be confirmed today as part of the US Tennis Association's announcement for this year's US Open prize money. Sources involved anticipate the US Open prize money will top $100m (£74m) for the first time.
The four slams and leading players have been in dispute for almost 18 months. Top stars, including Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka, have called for a larger share of tournament revenues, alongside broader changes to the sport's finances and operations.
Players are demanding that the slams allocate 22% of their revenues to prize money, matching the ATP and WTA tours. For example, Wimbledon's £64.2m prize money represented approximately 14.4% of its total revenue.
A media boycott at this year's French Open in May saw top players withdraw from some contracted media activity. A similar boycott planned for Wimbledon was cancelled after last-minute negotiations. The threat of another media boycott at Flushing Meadow remains if players are dissatisfied with the prize money levels.
Players are also awaiting further details on the proposed Player Advisory Council before confirming their position. A source involved in negotiations stated it is crucial for players to have a say in determining their representatives, their selection process, and the extent of their involvement in the slams’ decision-making.