World number one Jannik Sinner is part of a player group threatening to boycott the US Open mixed doubles event in an ongoing dispute over prize money and welfare conditions.
The Italian was scheduled to partner Katerina Siniakova in the newly overhauled tournament last year before withdrawing due to illness.
Now, the two-time Grand Slam champion is reportedly considering snubbing the competition entirely.
It follows reports indicating that competitors are collectively demanding a significantly larger financial reward to participate.
Prize money protests gather momentum
The threat marks the latest escalation by a cohort of athletes pushing for substantial financial reforms at major tournaments.
Players have unified behind a demand to receive 22 per cent of the total revenue generated by Grand Slam events.
This widespread dissatisfaction was previously highlighted during the French Open, where several competitors restricted their pre-tournament media commitments to just 15 minutes.
Eventual mixed doubles winners Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori secured a shared $1 million payout at Flushing Meadows last year.
Wimbledon prize pool increases
The boycott reports emerge shortly after Wimbledon confirmed a £10.7 million increase in its overall prize fund.
Singles champions at SW19 will now receive £3.6 million, while first-round participants are guaranteed at least £80,000.
Despite this 25 per cent overall uplift, the All England Club has firmly rejected the notion of tying player compensation directly to tournament revenue.
“We’ve always been clear that we’re on the side of the players, in the sense that we want to have a fantastic Wimbledon for them.”
Said All England Club chair Deborah Jevans.
“But using revenue to determine prize money, it just makes no sense, and we have said that to Larry Scott.”
Jevans emphasised that the famous grass-court tournament operates as a not-for-profit organisation.
“Revenue does not take into account the investments that we make. Everything goes back into the sport.”
Emma Raducanu has advanced to the quarter-finals at Queen’s Club after defeating Sorana Cirstea 6-4 6-2 in front of a home crowd on Friday.
The British No 1 secured her second consecutive grass-court victory this week to the delight of a packed Andy Murray Arena.
This impressive straight-sets triumph marks her first victory over a top-20 opponent in more than a year.
She will now face either compatriot Harriet Dart or Kamilla Rakhimova in the last eight later today.
Dominant early start thwarted by comeback
The 2021 US Open champion commenced the match with blistering intensity, utilising ferocious forehands to secure two early breaks.
Having established a commanding 4-0 advantage, she allowed her experienced opponent a route back into the contest through costly unforced errors.
Cirstea capitalised on these mistakes to win three consecutive games, shifting the momentum and pressure back onto the home favourite.
Facing a potential break point at 5-4, the young Briton demonstrated impressive resilience to claim two vital points and seal the hard-fought 50-minute opening set.
Cruising through the second set
Oozing confidence after edging a tight opener, the hometown hero immediately broke serve in the first game of the second set with a glorious deep forehand return.
She maintained complete control throughout the remainder of the match, dictating baseline rallies against the Romanian veteran.
A second crucial break of serve in the fourth game ultimately provided the decisive blow in securing progression.
This welcome return to form provides a significant boost for the British star as she builds vital momentum on the grass.
Andre Agassi has urged Carlos Alcaraz to provide greater transparency regarding the persistent wrist injury that forced the Spaniard to withdraw from Wimbledon.
The 23-year-old has been struggling with the issue since the Barcelona Open earlier this year.
This latest physical setback follows his enforced absence from both the Madrid Open and Roland Garros.
Despite posting on social media last month that his recovery was progressing well, no official timeline for a competitive return has been established.
Agassi seeks medical answers
That distinct lack of detailed information has frustrated eight-time Grand Slam champion Agassi.
The American believes the wider tennis community is currently left to blindly speculate about the severity of the problem.
“It would be really helpful if he or someone close to him clearly explained the exact nature of his injury, because at this point, we can only speculate.”
Agassi suffered numerous debilitating wrist problems during his own illustrious career on the ATP Tour.
“If it’s a form of tendinitis, is it a specific inflammation like dorsal capsulitis or a carpal tunnel-type problem? What exactly are we talking about, and what are the treatment options? I don’t know precisely what he has.”
A stalled historic campaign
The prolonged absence represents a significant blow for the Spanish star after a phenomenal start to the season.
He defeated Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open to complete a career Grand Slam at just 22 years of age.
His impressive grass-court pedigree includes lifting the Wimbledon trophy in both 2023 and 2024.
However, he previously confirmed he would miss the entirety of the current grass-court swing.
“They are two really special tournaments for me and I’ll miss them a lot. We keep working to return as soon as possible!”
Title race blown wide open
This high-profile withdrawal significantly alters the landscape for the upcoming Championships at SW19.
Alexander Zverev will arrive in London full of confidence after claiming his maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open.
The German world number three defeated Flavio Cobolli in Paris to strengthen his ranking.
He now joins Djokovic and Jannik Sinner as the clear pre-tournament favourites to secure the prestigious grass-court major.
Wimbledon organisers have announced a record £10.7m increase to their prize money pot, but leading tennis stars insist fundamental revenue disputes remain unresolved.
The total financial pool for this year’s championships at SW19 will reach a staggering £64.2m following a 20% uplift.
While representatives from the ATP and WTA Tours have welcomed the largest single-year rise in the tournament’s history, they argue it still falls short of a fair share.
Revenue sharing tensions persist
The newly announced figure represents just 14.4% of the grass-court major’s projected revenues.
This allocation actually falls below the 14.9% share that was distributed to competitors back in 2015.
Athletes had actively campaigned for an interim rise to 16%, equating to roughly £71.2m, as a stepping stone towards a long-term goal of 22% by 2030.
The All England Club maintain that such a high percentage is unrealistic due to their unique financial obligations.
Unlike regular tour events, organisers must heavily invest in facility upgrades and the broader grassroots development of the sport.
Players demand structural changes
A collective statement representing the elite competitors underscored their appreciation for the financial boost while reiterating deeper systemic concerns.
“The 20 per cent increase is the largest single-year uplift in the tournament’s history and a meaningful signal of intent.”
“The question has never been whether those investments are valuable, but whether the athletes whose performances drive the event’s global success should receive a fair share of its tremendous financial growth.”
“At the same time, players are clear that the announcement does not yet resolve the structural issues they have been raising with the grand slams for the past year.”
Welfare and broader protections
Beyond immediate tournament earnings, the professional ranks are calling for all major championships to directly contribute to a comprehensive welfare fund.
This proposed safety net would cover long-term health care, pension plans, and maternity protections for those competing on the demanding global circuit.
They are also seeking the establishment of a formal player council to ensure athletes have a meaningful voice in decisions that directly impact their livelihoods.
These latest demands follow similar pre-tournament tensions at the French Open last month.
Media activities at Roland Garros were notably limited by disgruntled competitors after organisers implemented a modest 9.5% prize money increase.
British tennis player Dan Evans has announced he will retire from professional tennis following this summer’s Wimbledon championships at the age of 36.
The former world number 21 confirmed his impending departure from the sport via an emotional statement published on his Instagram account.
He intends to compete in two final tournaments, culminating at the All England Club where he will likely require a wildcard entry due to his current world ranking of 217.
A memorable career on the international stage
The veteran is highly regarded for his passionate and committed performances while representing Great Britain.
He played a crucial role in securing the historic Davis Cup victory for his country in 2015.
More recently, the 36-year-old partnered Andy Murray in the men’s doubles at the Paris 2024 Olympics, reaching the quarter-finals during the two-time Wimbledon champion’s own farewell tournament.
ATP Tour successes and setbacks
During his time on the ATP Tour, the tenacious baseline competitor claimed two singles titles, including a prestigious ATP 500 triumph in Washington in 2023.
He also registered notable victories against elite opposition, famously defeating then-world number one Novak Djokovic en route to the Monte Carlo Masters semi-finals in 2021.
However, his professional journey was interrupted by a one-year suspension in 2017 after a positive test for cocaine.
The current British number 10 has played sparsely this season, slipping down the world rankings following early exits in qualifying at both the Australian Open and Roland Garros.
‘The greatest honour of my career’
Reflecting on his journey, the outgoing star expressed deep gratitude for his time on the professional circuit.
“This sport has given me everything. The friendships, the experiences, the battles and even the hard days were special in hindsight.”
He thanked his family, coaches, and sponsors for their unwavering support through his career highs and lows.
“Representing Great Britain in both Davis Cup and the Olympics remains the greatest honour of my career and something I will cherish for the rest of my life.”
He concluded by promising to give everything he has one last time in his final two appearances.
Wimbledon has announced a 20% increase in total prize money to £64.2m for next month’s tournament following recent player protests over revenue sharing.
Singles champions at the prestigious grass-court Grand Slam will now take home a record £3.6m each.
All England Club chair Deborah Jevans confirmed the substantial financial boost during a news conference in London on Thursday.
The decision arrives during a period of escalating tension between tournament organisers and athletes regarding financial compensation.
Players demand greater revenue share
Competitors have long argued that they deserve a larger percentage of the profits generated by the sport’s four major championships.
Frustrations reached a boiling point ahead of the recent French Open when high-profile stars began taking steps towards collective action.
Belarusian world number one Aryna Sabalenka recently suggested that a player boycott might be necessary if financial demands remain unmet.
Her sentiments were heavily echoed by men’s top-ranked player Jannik Sinner and American standout Coco Gauff.
Symbolic protests at Roland Garros
Tensions manifested visibly in Paris when several top-10 competitors restricted their mandatory press conferences to strictly 15 minutes.
This silent demonstration at the clay-court major served as a symbolic protest against the current distribution of tournament wealth.
The underlying dissatisfaction is not a sudden development within the sport’s elite ranks.
Just over a year ago, 20 leading professionals signed a formal letter directed to Grand Slam executives demanding increased payouts and greater decision-making power.
Emma Raducanu has secured a comprehensive 6-0 6-3 victory over Anna Blinkova in the first round of the LTA’s HSBC Championships at Queen’s.
The 2021 US Open champion required just one hour to dismantle her Russian opponent despite an early rain delay.
It marks a crucial return to winning ways for the British number one, who had not recorded a victory since the Indian Wells Open in March.
Reuniting with a familiar face
The impressive performance coincides with her decision to reunite with coach Andrew Richardson.
Richardson famously guided the young star to her historic maiden Grand Slam triumph at Flushing Meadows five years ago.
This renewed partnership appeared to yield immediate dividends as she raced into an early 3-0 lead.
Imperious forehand dictates play
A brief suspension in play due to rain did little to disrupt the home favourite’s momentum.
Once the weather cleared, the lightning-fast baseliner resumed her dominance to seal the opening set in a mere 20 minutes.
A formidable forehand proved to be her most potent weapon, helping her win 25 points to her opponent’s six in the first set.
“I started extremely well, and despite not having played a lot of matches, I was really pleased with how I came out and I was playing very free.”
“I was feeding off of the atmosphere, and it felt free, it felt clear, and with a lot of clarity. I was not necessarily thinking too much or trying to do too much.”
Overcoming a second-set stumble
The qualifier finally found her footing in the second set, capitalising on three consecutive double faults to level the score at 3-3.
However, the home crowd soon rallied behind their quarter-finalist from last year.
She immediately elevated her game, rattling off the final three games and securing the match with a sensational backhand winner down the line.
“It felt really good to be back out playing on a home court in front of the fans. I’m really proud of my performance today.”
The revitalised star will now face Sorana Cirstea in the second round.
Jack Draper has withdrawn from the Queen’s Club Championships due to an ongoing knee injury, delaying his coaching debut with Andy Murray and raising doubts over his Wimbledon participation.
The 24-year-old has endured a torrid season beset by physical issues, completing just eight matches across the entire calendar year.
He was recently forced to pull out of the French Open following a knee problem sustained at the Barcelona Open in April.
This latest setback follows a prolonged absence earlier in the campaign caused by severe bone bruising in his left arm.
Ranking slide and Murray partnership
The British player has subsequently plummeted outside the world’s top 100, a stark contrast to his peak position of world number four this time last year.
During that sensational run, the left-hander claimed the Indian Wells title and reached the final of the Madrid Open before his momentum was cruelly halted by fitness struggles.
In a bid to revive his fortunes, he recently split with coach Jamie Delgado after six months to hire his childhood idol Murray for the grass-court swing.
The 38-year-old former Wimbledon champion previously enjoyed a short-term coaching stint with Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open earlier this season.
Race against time for Wimbledon
The injury deprives the former top-five star of a return to west London, where he famously defeated Carlos Alcaraz en route to the tournament semi-finals last year.
Despite the withdrawal, the promising talent remains optimistic about his physical prospects ahead of the third Grand Slam of the year.
Recovery going in the right direction, but I’m going to give myself one more week and aim to return at Eastbourne.
Very hard to miss one of my favourite events of the year.