Players not getting deserved respect – Sinner
Jannik Sinner admits it is “tough to say” whether he would ever boycott a Grand Slam over prize money, but claims players are not getting the respect they deserve.
His fellow world number one Aryna Sabalenka said on Tuesday that she believes players will “at some point” boycott one of the majors.
The top 10 players are demanding a higher percentage of the revenue generated by the four Slams, as well as benefit contributions and a greater say in areas such as scheduling.
“It’s more about respect,” Sinner said in Rome before his attempt to win a sixth consecutive Masters 1,000 title at the Italian Open.
“I think we give much more than what we are getting back. It’s not only for the top players – it’s for all of us players, from men’s and women’s side.
“The top 10 men and top 10 women, we wrote a letter and it’s not nice that after one year we are not even close to a conclusion for what we would like to have.
“Talking in other sports, if the top athletes, they send important letters, I truly believe that within 48 hours you have not only a response but you also have a meeting.
“Of course we talk about money. The most important is respect, and we just don’t feel it.”
Meetings have taken place between players and Grand Slam representatives. The players have made no progress in their request for benefit contributions, and rejected discussions about the formation of a Grand Slam player council.
Sinner expressed his disappointment at the 9.5 per cent prize money offered by this month’s French Open as players believe the total sum is still some way below the 22 per cent of tournament revenue they feel entitled to.
The financial pot at last year’s US Open rose by 20 per cent, with the figure for January’s Australian Open nearly 16 per cent higher year on year.
“I think in the next couple of weeks we know also the prize money we’re going to have in Wimbledon,” Sinner said.
“We truly hope that it’s going to be better. Then, of course, US Open. So I do understand players talking about boycott because it’s somewhere we also need to start. It has been a very long time with this.”
Sinner stopped short of committing himself to boycotting one of the Slams.
“Of course, it’s tough to say. I cannot predict the future in a way,” he said.
“It’s the first time that I feel like the players are all in the same scenario and in the same point of view.
“I think it’s also right because without the players, they are not going to happen, any tournaments. In the same time we also know and we respect the tournaments because they make us bigger as athletes.
“Let’s see in the future.”-BBC
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