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Roland Garros increases payouts but debate continues

3 minute read

The French Open has raised prize money significantly, but players are still pushing for fairer distribution across all rounds.

Coco Gauff, American tennis player. Picture: AAP Image

Prize money at this year's French Open will increase by 9.5%, with the biggest gains targeted at qualifying rounds and early-stage matches.

The singles champions will each earn €2.8 million (£2.44m), representing a 9.8% rise. Qualifying prize money will see an increase of nearly 13%, while players exiting in the first round of the main draw will receive €87,000 (£75,700), up 11.5%.

The announcement comes amid ongoing calls from players for higher earnings at Grand Slams, as well as improved welfare contributions. While the increase from the French Tennis Federation is almost double last year's rise, it still falls short of the recent boosts at the US Open and Australian Open, which saw prize money jump by 20% and nearly 16% respectively.

Jessica Pegula, currently ranked world number five, has been among the most vocal advocates for change. Speaking at Indian Wells, she welcomed recent increases but argued for a more balanced distribution.

Pegula pointed to improvements at the US Open but stressed that too much of the financial reward still goes to later rounds. She highlighted the need to support lower-ranked players trying to sustain their careers, saying a more even spread would benefit the wider tennis ecosystem.

Despite the push for reforms, Pegula made clear that players remain committed to competing in the Slams, describing the movement as a collective effort by both men and women to secure fairer compensation.

Tournament director Amélie Mauresmo confirmed there will be no expansion of camera access in player-only areas at Roland Garros this year, following privacy concerns raised earlier in the season.

Iga Świątek had criticised conditions at the Australian Open, saying players felt "like animals in a zoo," while Coco Gauff and Pegula also raised concerns about intrusive filming.

Mauresmo acknowledged broadcasters' desire for more behind-the-scenes content but insisted player privacy would be protected.

In a separate development, players will be permitted to wear approved fitness trackers during matches for the first time at Roland Garros. The trial follows restrictions at the Australian Open, where players including Aryna Sabalenka, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz were asked to remove such devices.

The use of tracking technology - already common on the ATP and WTA Tours will also extend to Wimbledon and the US Open, helping monitor factors such as sleep, stress and physical strain.

Meanwhile, one long-standing tradition will remain unchanged: line judges will continue to officiate at Roland Garros. Unlike other Grand Slams that have adopted electronic line calling, the FFT believes the technology is not yet fully reliable.

FFT president Gilles Moretton argued that line judges remain essential, particularly on clay courts where ball marks can be visually checked, reinforcing their role in the sport.