Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz have both emerged victorious in recent times, winning the Miami Open and Monte Carlo Masters respectively.
Alcaraz has surpassed $40million in prize money following his success at the Monte Carlo Masters, having beaten Lorenzo Musetti in the final.
ATP number two Alcaraz has already moved on to the Barcelona Open and indeed is already into the second round.
The Barcelona Open top seed takes on Laslo Djere in the round of 16 after his round of 32 victory over Laslo Djere.
Sabalenka meanwhile has moved on to the Stuttgart Open, where she remarkably has a free run to the quarter-finals after her Anastasia Potapova withdrew from their round of 16 tie.
Aryna Sabalenka agrees with WTA and ATP Grand Slam prize money demand
But the WTA number one was tasked with discussing matters off the court in her opening press conference, having been asked if she agrees with the top players writing to Grand Slams asking for more prize money.
“Yes, I do,” said Sabalenka. “I think we deserve to get a bit bigger percentage. And, yeah, I agree with that, because I think all of us, top players, all of the players, we bring the show. I think we deserve to be paid a little bit more.”
And sharing her thoughts on if the percentage is smaller at Grand Slams than WTA events, she replied: “Well, I would say that if we compare tennis to the rest of the sports, like, it’s a huge difference in percentage we are receiving compared to NHL or NBA and the rest of the sports.
“I think we are an individual sport, and we are… I can’t compare sports, so I don’t want to go that far, but I’d say we definitely deserve a bigger percentage on the Grand Slams. I mean, on all of the tournaments.”
Carlos Alcaraz agrees with Aryna Sabalenka that players put on a show
Sabalenka is, of course, in the discussion given she is the top player on the WTA Tour at this moment in time.
Indeed, the top 20 ATP and WTA players want a substantial increase in prize money across the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
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That, therefore, also includes Alcaraz, who shared his take from the game’s top players on the scenario with Marca.
“Yes, we agree,” he said. “Tennis is a well-paid sport, but the percentages have to be fair. If we put on a show so the fans can enjoy it and pay to see us, then the percentage has to be close to what we deserve. And that’s why we’ve come together.”
What Aryna Sabalenka will do amid lengthy wait at the Stuttgart Open
Sabalenka meanwhile was also tasked with discussing her current tournament, where she is into the last eight despite having not played a game so far.
Given a bye in round one, the Stuttgart Open top seed has now given her take on the lengthy wait to get going after Potapova’s withdrawal.
Speaking of managing her schedule given the situation, she said: “Yeah, that’s a bit awkward, but I was worried if everything is okay with her, so I messaged her and I figure out the situation.
“I was, like, What are you doing to me? My next match is on Saturday. Yeah, that’s a bit awkward, but yeah, we adjusted a little bit of the practice schedule, and I guess that’s gym time for me.”
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