A group of professional tennis players imposed a strict 15-minute limit on press interviews during Roland Garros Media Day on Friday, May 22, 2026, to protest the distribution of Grand Slam tournament revenues.
The coordinated action highlighted growing financial friction ahead of the main tournament. Top-ranked competitors are demanding a fairer percentage of tournament earnings to support lower-ranked and recovering players.
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World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka served as a key voice for the demonstration, terminating her media session precisely at the 15-minute mark to reinforce the collective stance.
Sabalenka explained that the protest was about players lower in the rankings who are struggling.
As the world number one, she felt it was her duty to fight for those players, including those returning from injuries and the rising generation.
She emphasized that the action was not a personal grievance against the media, but a structured effort to engage governing bodies regarding financial equity.
The Belarusian athlete split her restricted media availability between the general press room and global broadcasting partners before concluding in her native language.
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While elite circuit members pushed forward with the media restrictions, other athletes chose to distance themselves from the financial dispute.
French player Loïs Boisson declined to participate in the partial media boycott, citing an incomplete understanding of the ongoing financial negotiations.
She stated she did not know what was true or false, so she simply did not take part.
Boisson, who enters the tournament following a surprise semifinal run last year, noted that she preferred to keep her focus entirely on her on-court performance and recovery.
She said structural financial decisions should remain under the purview of designated administrative representatives.
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The main draw of Roland Garros is scheduled to begin on Sunday, May 24, 2026.
