Following recent legal actions by the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) challenging the power structures in tennis, a new and separate wave of player activism is gaining momentum—this time led by many of the highest-ranked women on tour.
On March 21, ten of the top eleven women in the WTA rankings, as per rankings from the week of March 3, signed a letter addressed to the directors of all four Grand Slam tournaments. The message, also signed by the top ten men’s players, calls for a greater share of tournament revenue and more say in key decisions affecting their careers.
The letter opens with a request for an in-person meeting at this month’s Madrid Open with Grand Slam leadership: Craig Tiley (Australian Open), Stephane Morel (French Open), Sally Bolton (Wimbledon), and Lew Sherr (US Open). The players emphasize their desire to be included in what they describe as “decisions that directly impact us.”
This move follows—but is separate from—the recent lawsuits filed by the PTPA and 22 professional players against the ATP, WTA, ITF, and ITIA, which allege anti-competitive behavior and monopolistic control of the sport. Although Sabalenka was not involved in those lawsuits, she publicly supported the push for a fairer distribution of earnings—and now, she’s also taking part in a collective demand for change.
Who signed the letter?
Among the WTA stars:
- Aryna Sabalenka
- Coco Gauff
- Iga Swiatek
- Jessica Pegula
- Madison Keys
- Jasmine Paolini
- Emma Navarro
- Zheng Qinwen
- Paula Badosa
- Mirra Andreeva
Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, ranked 7th on March 3, is the only notable absence.
From the ATP:
- Jannik Sinner (currently serving a three-month doping ban)
- Novak Djokovic
- Alexander Zverev
- Carlos Alcaraz
- Taylor Fritz
- Casper Ruud
- Daniil Medvedev
- Andrey Rublev
- Stefanos Tsitsipas
- Alex de Minaur
(source: ESPN)
Women’s Tennis Blog