One of their demands is for playersโ revenue share at grand slams to increase from about 16 per cent to 22 by 2030, which they believe is in line with what the ATP and WTA tours offer at their combined Masters 1000 events.
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That request still pales in comparison with major American sports leagues, such as the NFL and NBA, where playersโ revenue share is closer to 50 per cent.
There was an initial meeting on tournament eve at Roland-Garros last year between grand slam CEOs and select players, including Gauff, Sinner, Sabalenka and Casper Ruud.
โI imagine that there will be more meetings,โ Gauff said. โBut no one wants this conversation to be continuing for years and years, so I would imagine that we would continue to have those conversations and maybe more pressure being applied, especially with the top 10.โ
Australian Open boss Craig Tiley.Credit: Getty Images
Slam bosses are keen to meet again at one of the Masters 1000 events early in the season, a source said, but this is likely to occur only if formal offers are made on the playersโ demands.
The Australian Openโs $111.5 million prize pool is a 16 per cent increase on last yearโs offering, including the menโs and womenโs singles champions scoring a $4.15 million payday each, which is 19 per cent up.
Tennis Australiaโs revenue for the last financial year, ending September 30, was a record-setting $697.2 million, which is largely driven by the Australian Open.
Tournament boss Craig Tiley said at the time of the announcement that the prizemoney boost demonstrated his organisationโs โcommitment to supporting tennis careers at every levelโ.
In a statement to this masthead, Tiley said: โAll the players we have spoken to are extremely appreciative and thankful for the effort we have put into servicing their needs, including the positive commentary they have made about our ongoing prizemoney increases.โ
Tiley also said the Openโs prizemoney this year was more than 21 per cent of tournament revenue and outstripped Tennis Australiaโs annual revenue growth.
The Scott-led campaign is separate from the Professional Tennis Players Association lawsuit against the sportโs stakeholders. Tennis Australia is the first of those stakeholders to be actively trying to reach a deal with the PTPA, which could occur as soon as this month, a source said.
Sabalenka, a two-time winner at Melbourne Park, said on Friday: โI think we always can do better. But I think all the slams are trying to work together with us and come to a conclusion. I hope one day weโll get to a happy place for everyone.โ
A key plank of the playersโ demands is for the grand slams to contribute to a welfare fund for pension, healthcare and maternity benefits.
โI completely see the player side of wanting the slams to kind of step up and support player welfare,โ Australian Open defending champion Keys said.
โItโs really important. We give a lot of ourselves to this sport. They, being the highest revenue-holders, I think it absolutely makes sense. As we are the product, it makes sense for us to be partners.
โI think that it has been the most productive conversations that weโve ever had, which leads me to be cautiously optimistic for the future. But I think itโs in everyoneโs best interest to continue to be really good partners to each other. We all need each other.โ
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