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Grand Slams Create Player Advisory Council amid Push for Increased Prize Money
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Sports

Grand Slams Create Player Advisory Council amid Push for Increased Prize Money

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Tennis's four Grand Slam tournaments have established a Player Advisory Council to address player concerns, including prize money.
  • The council will provide a platform for players to voice opinions on sporting matters and player welfare.
  • This initiative follows player demands for increased prize money and potential boycotts.

In a significant move aimed at improving player relations, the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open have jointly announced the creation of a Grand Slam Player Advisory Council. This new body will focus on a variety of issues pertinent to professional tennis players, with a particular emphasis on increasing prize money.

Having a seat at the table with the Grand Slams is something we have wanted for some time, so I’m really pleased to see this council come together.

— Ben SheltonCommenting on the creation of the Player Advisory Council.

The council is set to launch after the upcoming US Open in New York. Organizers are currently working with players to shape the council's composition and operational structure. Players will have the opportunity to apply for positions, allowing them to directly address a broad spectrum of Grand Slam sporting matters and advocate for a larger share of the revenue generated by the four major tournaments.

Ben Shelton, the world number six, expressed his satisfaction with the initiative, stating, "Having a seat at the table with the Grand Slams is something we have wanted for some time, so I’m really pleased to see this council come together." He added that the council offers players a genuine chance to have their voices heard and contribute to the evolution of the tournaments beyond on-court performance.

It gives us, as players, a real opportunity to have a voice, contribute to the conversation and help shape the tournaments beyond what happens on the court.

— Ben SheltonDescribing the potential impact of the council for players.

The establishment of the council comes after recent player activism, including demands for higher prize money. At this year's French Open, world number one Aryna Sabalenka indicated that players might consider boycotting the event if prize money was not increased, a sentiment echoed by American player Coco Gauff. Deborah Jevans, chair of the All England Club, highlighted the council's role in strengthening the partnership between the Grand Slams and players, stating, "We have listened to the players’ desire for a greater voice and this advisory council is an important step towards a stronger relationship between the Grand Slams and the players."

We have listened to the players’ desire for a greater voice and this advisory council is an important step towards a stronger relationship between the Grand Slams and the players.

— Deborah Jevans, chair of the All England ClubOn the significance of the council for player-tournament relations.
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Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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