Andy Roddick calls proposed French Open boycott ‘idiotic’

Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images Former world number one believes skipping Roland Garros would weaken players’ negotiating position ahead of Wimbledon. Talk of a possible Grand Slam boycott has started to grow after several leading players voiced frustration over prize money distribution at the upcoming French Open. Both Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff admitted they would consider drastic action if financial concerns are not addressed.

While the idea has generated debate across the tennis world, former US Open champion Andy Roddick believes a boycott of Roland Garros would make little strategic sense. Speaking on his podcast, Roddick argued that the timing of the clay-court major, followed closely by Wimbledon, leaves almost no room for meaningful negotiations. Andy Roddick says players would damage their leverage by skipping Roland Garros Photo by Miikka Skaffari/Getty Images for Laver Cup Roddick explained that any boycott would need time for discussions and compromise after such an extreme move.

In his view, missing the French Open would only create additional pressure with Wimbledon beginning just weeks later. “It would be idiotic to boycott the French Open,” Roddick said, adding that players would immediately place themselves into a rushed negotiation process before the grass-court season. He also dismissed the possibility of a Wimbledon boycott for similar reasons.

The former world number one suggested that, if a boycott were ever to happen, the US Open or Australian Open would likely be more realistic options because of the larger gaps between those tournaments and the rest of the calendar. Roddick also questions what the ATP and WTA Tours could realistically change During the discussion, Roddick argued that the ATP and WTA Tours should first address player complaints about the length of the season before taking a stronger position against the Grand Slams. He also pushed back against the idea of removing ranking points from major tournaments, claiming it would create major consequences for players’ rankings.