Jannik Sinner ‘considers boycotting Grand Slam event’ | Tennis | Sport

Jannik Sinner could boycott the US Open’s recently introduced mixed doubles event over an argument over prize money. The tournament revamped the competition last year, Sinner was due to play alongside Katerina Siniakova but withdrew due to illness.

Eventual winners Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori claimed a prize of $1 million (around £745,000). However, The Times reports that players, including Sinner, are threatening to boycott the event amid demands that the prize pot be boosted and improvements over player welfare are made.

The threat is the latest by a group of players who want a significant increase in the prize money on offer during Grand Slams. During the recent French Open, some players limited their pre-tournament media availability to just 15 minutes as part of the protest.

The total prize pot has risen by 25 per cent on last year. Players have made it clear that they want 22 per cent of the total revenue made, a threshold that has not been reached despite the increase.

“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,” All England Club chair Deborah Jevans said. “But using revenue to determine prize money, it just makes no sense, and we have said that to Larry Scott (the players’ representative).

“Revenue does not take into account the investments that we make. We’re not-for-profit, we’re very different to a Masters 1000 event, everything goes back into the sport.

“So, I am frustrated that that message hasn’t gotten across, but we have constant dialogue with Larry in this regard, and we’re hoping that, with your help, that message will get across for the players to understand the investment back into the game, which is so very, very important, and that allows us to be sustainable, and it will do into the future.”