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United States’ Jessica Pegula returns the ball to Switzerland’s Rebeka Masarova, during their match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Sunday, May 10, 2026.<\/p>\n
Andrew Medichini\/AP<\/p>\n
United States’ Jessica Pegula returns the ball to Switzerland’s Rebeka Masarova, during their match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Sunday, May 10, 2026.<\/p>\n
Andrew Medichini\/AP<\/p>\n
Buffalo Sabres’ Tage Thompson, center, celebrates his goal with teammates Rasmus Dahlin (26) and Josh Doan (91) during the first period in Game 3 in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens in Montreal, Sunday, May 10, 2026. (Christinne Muschi\/The Canadian Press via AP)<\/p>\n
Christinne Muschi\/AP<\/p>\n
United States’ Jessica Pegula returns the ball to Switzerland’s Rebeka Masarova, during their match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Sunday, May 10, 2026.<\/p>\n
Andrew Medichini\/AP<\/p>\n
Buffalo Sabres fans celebrate a goal while watching Stanley Cup second-round playoff action against the Montreal Canadiens at Kully’s Original Sports Bar in St. Catharines, on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (Nick Iwanyshyn\/The Canadian Press via AP)<\/p>\n
Nick Iwanyshyn\/AP<\/p>\n
ROME (AP) \u2014 Talk of a boycott from top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner has grabbed attention.<\/p>\n
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Behind the scenes, it\u2019s been Jessica Pegula, the 2024 U.S. Open runner-up, organizing the top tennis players in their protest with the Grand Slams over the share of tournament revenues devoted to prize money.<\/p>\n
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It comes naturally to Pegula, who grew up in a household of sports managers: Her parents own the NFL\u2019s Buffalo Bills and the NHL\u2019s Buffalo Sabres.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it maybe does (come naturally) just because I feel like I\u2019ve taken on a bit of a leadership role with it,\u201d Pegula said.<\/p>\n
Already this year, No. 5-ranked Pegula was named to lead a new 13-person panel to suggest changes to the women\u2019s tennis calendar, rankings points rules and the requirements about competing in certain events. Now she’s taking on the prize money issue, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not afraid to go up to any type of player and go like, \u2018Hey, are you interested in this or not?\u2019” Pegula said. “Some players, they don\u2019t care, sometimes they\u2019re not worried about it. Sometimes they\u2019re like, \u2019Yeah, for sure, I\u2019m 100% in.’ I\u2019ve been reaching out to players on the men\u2019s and women\u2019s side.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Sabalenka said last week the players should consider a boycott for a bigger slice of tournament revenue, while Sinner said there\u2019s a lack of respect.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the end of the day the players are the ones that have the big voices,\u201d Pegula said. \u201cIt\u2019s been nice to see Aryna and Jannik kind of step out. I know a lot of other players feel the same way. But to have the two No. 1s very outspoken about it, that\u2019s kind of what it takes to get them to listen.\u201d<\/p>\n Players’ share dropped in Paris<\/p>\n Whereas in the NFL and NHL athletes take home about 50% of the revenues, at most tennis events the number isn\u2019t even half of that. The upcoming French Open is allegedly devoting under 14.9% to the players \u2014 down from 15.5% in 2024, according to a players\u2019 protest statement issued last week.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Roland Garros organizers announced last month they were increasing overall prize money by about 10% for an overall pot of 61.7 million euros ($72.1 million), with the total amount up 5.3 million euros from last year. But the players\u2019 said that the the underlying figures tell a very different story.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s crazy. It\u2019s an insane difference. Obviously they\u2019re different sports. They\u2019re run differently,” Pegula said, comparing tennis to the NFL. “But tennis has been a very old-school sport. I think it\u2019s one of the things that needs to change. Sometimes change is good. Sometimes that means fighting for things.\u201d<\/p>\n The same group of players sent a letter a year ago to the heads of the four Grand Slams seeking more prize money and a greater say in decision-making. Wimbledon increased its 2025 total pot by 7%, the U.S. Open by 20% and the Australian Open this past January by 16%.<\/p>\n Still, the players say the Grand Slams don\u2019t match the rate of 22% at regular ATP and WTA Tour events.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cThe slams have kind of just gotten away with paying not that much because we\u2019re a very individual sport,\u201d Pegula said. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to get players to come together. We\u2019re not on a salary where football players or basketball players can afford not to play.\u201d<\/p>\n Organizers at the French Open, which starts in less than two weeks, have not responded to requests for comment.<\/p>\n Wimbledon is due to announce its prize money next month and Pegula said the players have not had a response from the All England Club.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re just going to kind of continue to talk amongst ourselves,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n One of the big issues affecting tennis governance is that there are seven organizing bodies: The four Grand Slams, the ATP, the WTA and the International Tennis Federation.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what makes it so hard is that our sport is super fragmented. Hard to get everybody on the same page,\u201d Pegula said. \u201cThat\u2019s why it\u2019s been huge to actually have the top 10 men and women really come together. I\u2019m hoping that will get the Slams\u2019 attention.\u201d<\/p>\n Pegula advances in Rome<\/p>\n Before she gets to Paris, Pegula has been perfecting her clay-court game at the Italian Open, where she reached the quarterfinals with a 7-6 (6), 6-2 win over Anastasia Potapova on Monday. She routed Rebeka Masarova 6-0, 6-0 in the previous round.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Pegula will next face three-time Rome champion Iga Swiatek, who beat four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka 6-2, 6-1.<\/p>\n Sabres’ playoff run<\/p>\n In between her matches and prize money activist duties, Pegula has been struggling to watch the Sabres\u2019 run to the playoffs for the first time in 15 years due to the time difference between the U.S. and Europe.<\/p>\n The Montreal Canadiens beat the Sabres 6-2 in Game 3 on Sunday night to take a 2-1 lead in their second-round playoff series.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cMy gosh, I am so upset that I have not been able to see any of the games,\u201d Pegula said. \u201cI would give anything to just be at a playoff game. \u2026 I love it so much. It\u2019s my favorite thing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>
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