Emma Raducanu makes decision on boycotting Wimbledon and French Open as row erupts | Tennis | Sport

Emma Raducanu has confirmed that she would not be part of a boycott of the Grand Slam tournaments after world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka suggested players could take action against the sport’s biggest events if their concerns aren’t heard. Last year, a group of top tennis players – including Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz – co-signed a letter to organisers of the four Slams, asking for a greater share of tournament revenue as prize money, financial contributions to player welfare schemes, and greater say in decisions that impact them.

This same player cohort has now expressed a “deep” and “collective disappointment” following the French Open’s recent prize money announcement. While Roland Garros organisers say the prize pot has increased by 9.53 per cent this year, the players pointed out that they will receive a lesser share of tournament revenue.

And four-time Major champion Sabalenka has since proposed boycotting the four Grand Slams, the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. However, British No. 1 Raducanu has now revealed that she would not join any strike action, and wants to play in the biggest events regardless of the money on offer.

“To me, they are tennis,” The 2021 US Open champion told BBC Sport. “It gives you something that money can’t and that is what is the most important to me, and what I value the most. I wouldn’t be a part of [a boycott] but each to their own.”

It comes after Sabalenka claimed the women on tour would “get together” and take action if needed. “I think at some point we will boycott it, yeah. I feel like that’s going to be the only way to kind of, like, fight for our rights,” the world No. 1 said in Rome.

“I’m trying not to, like, overthink that because we’re trying our best, we’re doing what we can do. Let’s see how far we can get. If it’s going to take players for boycott. I feel like nowadays, we girls can easily get together and go for this because some of the things I feel like it’s really unfair to the players. I think at some point it’s going to get to this.”

Raducanu may not agree, but fellow Major champions Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina said they would join if everyone collectively agreed to strike.

“I definitely think, if we all collectively agree, then yes. I mean, I wouldn’t want to just be the only one because people talk about it. I’m just like, Yeah. Then I’m like the only one not playing. That is where there needs to be a real discussion,” Gauff explained.

World No. 2 Rybakina has not been involved in any discussions and was not part of the group of players who co-signed the letter to the four Slams last year, but said: “It’s a tough question because we had so many things in the past where players could come together and boycott, but it never happened.

“I honestly don’t know. If the majority say we are boycotting, we are not playing, then of course I’m up for it. It’s not an issue.”

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