The Daily Aus Why are tennis players asking for more money?
Jan 21, 2026
Top tennis players are pushing for a larger share of Australian Open revenue, claiming they deserve better pay and conditions. Tennis Australia counters that they are already compensated fairly. The players’ union has formed to advocate for changes, including a substantial welfare fund. As debates heat up, some ex-players have labeled the demands as greedy. Comparisons are drawn between tennis and other sports regarding earnings, highlighting the lower revenue share for tennis players. Tensions rise as negotiations continue amidst the tournament.
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How Big Is The Money Pie
- The Australian Open generated about $700 million in Tennis Australia revenue last year, but $150 million came from other events and year-round activities.
- That allocation matters because players dispute whether prize money should be judged against the big $700M or the smaller event-only figure.
Prize Pool Versus Revenue Percentage
- The 2026 Australian Open prize pool is AU$111.5 million, about 16% of Tennis Australia's total revenue or about 20% of revenue Tennis Australia says is from the Aussie Open alone.
- Players argue that percentage is too low and want Grand Slams to lift prize pools to 22% of revenue by 2030.
Players Form A Union And Sue
- Players formed the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) to push for better pay and conditions and launched a lawsuit last March against governing bodies.
- Novak Djokovic co-founded the PTPA but later left, citing governance and image-use concerns.