A group of top-10 tennis gamers despatched a second letter to the 4 Grand Slam tournaments to push for a higher share of revenues — aiming to rise from the present 16 per cent to 22 per cent by 2030 — contributions to pension, well being and maternity advantages that will go from zero to $12 million (CAD$16.67 million) yearly by that very same yr, and higher say through a brand new participant council.
This letter, signed by stars resembling Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Jack Draper — however not, in contrast to the unique letter despatched by gamers to the Slam occasions in March, Novak Djokovic — was dated July 30.
The second letter, which was seen this week by The Related Press, set out particular benchmarks for methods through which the game’s 4 most prestigious and worthwhile tournaments might provide more cash and affect to the athletes.
The gamers are working with Larry Scott as a guide; he was the chairman and CEO of the WTA ladies’s tennis tour and, later, ran the Pac-12 convention in American school sports activities.
There have been conferences amongst Scott, some gamers and the leaders of the All England Membership, which runs Wimbledon; the French Tennis Federation, which runs Roland-Garros; Tennis Australia, which runs the Australian Open; and the U.S. Tennis Affiliation, which runs the U.S. Open.
All 4 had been requested to answer to the July 30 letter, and all 4 did.
The USTA’s response, dated Aug. 18 and obtained this week by the AP, was signed by Brian Vahaly, the group’s interim co-CEO, and Stacey Allaster, the USTA’s chief govt {of professional} tennis, who simply accomplished her final U.S. Open as event director.
“As you are aware, we have always been willing to increase compensation for players — as evidenced by the 57 per cent growth of the U.S. Open purse over the past five years — particularly when additional collaboration on the part of the players helps to create additional revenue,” Vahaly and Allaster wrote. “For example, this year’s significant increase in compensation to $90 million (CAD$125.09 million) reflects the addition of an extra day to the main draw singles competition and the resulting contribution made by players.”
U.S. Open singles champions Sabalenka and Alcaraz every obtained a report $5 million (CAD$6.95 million) this month.
Vahaly and Allaster additionally wrote that they needed “to reiterate our commitment to engaging in direct, honest and transparent discussions with the players to build a stronger future for the entire tennis ecosystem — including a healthier calendar, enhanced player consultation, and greater financial value for all involved.”
The March letter from gamers to the 4 Slam hosts got here not lengthy after the gamers’ affiliation co-founded by Djokovic — the Skilled Tennis Gamers’ Affiliation (PTPA) — filed an antitrust lawsuit towards the ladies’s and males’s skilled excursions in federal courtroom in New York. Djokovic was not listed as one of many plaintiffs.
That antitrust submitting seeks more cash for gamers, saying too little of the revenues find yourself within the athletes’ palms, and lays out a collection of different complaints about the best way the game is run. In Might, the WTA and ATP excursions collectively filed a movement to dismiss the case towards them.
The unique case didn’t checklist the 4 Grand Slam event organizers as defendants, however they’ve been added, the PTPA introduced this week.
“This is a necessary next step to guarantee accountability from all parties,” the PTPA said, “and accelerate long-overdue reform across the entire tennis ecosystem.”
