“As a player, I don’t feel like it’s fair… If you compare with other major sports around the world, NFL, MLB, NBA, they are closer to 50 percent revenue sharing,” Ruud told the AFP.
“I don’t think we’ll ever get there. But if we can get closer, I think every percentage helps.”
The Associated Press, who obtained a copy of the letter on Thursday, reported that players are also calling on the Grand Slams to “make financial contributions to player welfare programs” funded by the ATP and WTA Tours, as well as for more say in decisions “directly impacting competition, as well as player health and welfare.”
Which ATP and WTA players have signed the letter?
According to the Associated Press, the letter was dated “March 21” and included 20 handwritten signatures from the men’s and women’s top players on the bottom of the page.
The women include Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys, Jasmine Paolini, Emma Navarro, Zheng Qinwen, Paula Badosa and Mirra Andreeva—making up 10 of the WTA’s Top 11, with only No. 10 Elena Rybakina’s name being absent.
The men include Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alex de Minaur—representing the full Top 10 player list from the March 3 rankings.
