Novak Djokovic confirms he will not join French Open media boycott
Novak Djokovic has confirmed he will not participate in a player-led media boycott at the French Open regarding prize money, despite fully supporting demands for a fairer revenue split.
Several prominent figures across the men’s and women’s draws are planning to exit pre-tournament press conferences early at Roland Garros.
Competitors are currently set to receive 14.9% of the tournament’s overall revenue, a figure that has sparked widespread dissatisfaction and collective action.
Advocating for lower-ranked players
The 24-time Grand Slam champion revealed he was entirely unaware of the planned protest before arriving in Paris.
“I was not part of the process, plan or decision-making, so I’m not part of that at all and I can’t comment on that,” he said.
However, the Serbian veteran stressed that he remains deeply committed to fighting for better financial conditions across the professional circuit.
“What I can keep doing is advocating for players, like I always did, and not only the top players, but the lower-ranked as well.”
He added that fans often forget how small the number of people who actually make a living from the sport truly is.
Warnings of a divided sport
Drawing parallels with the recent civil war in professional golf, the former world number one urged his peers to find a unified voice.
“Let’s also learn from golf and try to be a bit more united in finding a better structure and a better future for our sport,” he added.
Italian star Jannik Sinner is reportedly among the major names set to curtail media duties during the clay-court major.
Meanwhile, high-profile figures such as Aryna Sabalenka are already taking action, with the Belarusian ending her scheduled press conference early on Friday.
“It’s not your decision and it’s not about you, we’re just trying to fight for a fair percentage,” she told reporters.
