Emma Raducanu’s ex coach responds to Aryna Sabalenka’s threat to boycott Grand Slams over pay dispute
Casper Ruud provides another perspective on Grand Slam boycott There’s a growing conversation in tennis about the possibility of players boycotting the Grand Slams, which would be a major turning point for the sport. This issue didn’t just appear overnight.
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Casper Ruud provides another perspective on Grand Slam boycott There’s a growing conversation in tennis about the possibility of players boycotting the Grand Slams, which would be a major turning point for the sport. This issue didn’t just appear overnight. After years of financial disputes between players and tennis officials, it seems this kind of standoff was always coming.
Now that Aryna Sabalenka has openly talked about a boycott, with Jannik Sinner backing her up, there’s real momentum building among some of the top players. While several high-profile names are supporting a potential strike, others within the sport have been more cautious about committing to such an extreme move. The divide is clear among both fans and athletes.
Mark Petchey says Grand Slam criticism is misdirected as boycott talk builds Photo by William WEST / AFP via Getty Images Just days after Emma Raducanu said she wouldn’t support a boycott, her former coach Mark Petchey has also weighed in with a slightly different view. While he backs parts of the movement, he believes the frustration might be aimed at the wrong people. Speaking on Tennis Channel, Petchey said: “I think it’s important to remember what the slams are doing.
I think you’ve got to look at things like Sabalenka last year, 58% of her prize money came from the majors. That’s just 27 matches compared to 75 that she played throughout the course of the season. “If we take a look at the men’s top 100, 62% of their prize money comes from the Grand Slams, and that equates to just 14% of their play in the season.