Grand Slam Players Demand Reform Ahead of French Open/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The 2025 French Open begins under a cloud of off-court controversies, including doping bans, a lawsuit, and a push for better player compensation. Top stars like Djokovic, Swiatek, and Sinner are at the center of multiple headlines. Amid growing tensions, fans wonder: will drama off the court eclipse the matches on it?
French Open 2025: Lawsuits, Doping, and Pay Battles + Quick Looks
- Doping bans hit top seeds Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, both now returning.
- Players, led by Djokovic and Gauff, demand more Slam revenue and better welfare support.
- A class-action lawsuit filed by the PTPA challenges tennis’ current governance.
- Slams give just 10–20% of revenues to players, raising equity concerns.
- Swiatek, the three-time champ, enters in a slump.
- Alcaraz, Djokovic, Gauff, and Sabalenka lead title hopes.
- Tensions rise as French Open 2025 begins Sunday in Paris.
Grand Slam Players Demand Reform Ahead of French Open
Deep Look
PARIS — As Roland-Garros 2025 kicks off Sunday, headlines swirling around the French Open are increasingly being made off the court. From high-profile doping suspensions to a landmark lawsuit, and a renewed push by players for a greater share of Grand Slam revenues, this year’s edition of the clay-court major is already historic — for reasons beyond tennis.
While fans eagerly await matchups involving Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Novak Djokovic, the backdrop to this year’s tournament includes legal fights, player unrest, and structural scrutiny of how the sport is run.
Players Demand Bigger Share from Grand Slams
In April, 20 top players, including Djokovic, Gauff, Sinner, and Aryna Sabalenka, signed a joint letter to the four Grand Slam tournaments, calling for a higher revenue share. Currently, players receive only 10–20% of combined $1.5 billion annual Slam revenues.
“We’re unified,” said Jessica Pegula, the No. 3 seed, who cited long-term issues of player welfare, pension support, and lack of Grand Slam contributions to tour-managed bonus pools.
Executives from the French Open, Wimbledon, U.S. Open, and Australian Open recently met with players in Paris to discuss reform. While no firm agreement emerged, discussions signaled the start of a potential shift in power between event organizers and the athletes they showcase.
PTPA Lawsuit Pressures Tennis Governance
In March, the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA) — co-founded by Novak Djokovic — filed an antitrust class-action lawsuit against tennis’ top governing bodies: the ATP, WTA, ITF, and International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). The suit, filed in federal court in New York, claims tennis is run like a “cartel” and restricts player rights.
This week, those organizations jointly filed motions to dismiss the case, arguing the PTPA lacks standing and that the plaintiffs must seek arbitration.
The WTA additionally argued that male plaintiffs like Nick Kyrgios shouldn’t sue the women’s tour, while female plaintiffs must pursue private arbitration.
The suit represents the biggest legal challenge yet to tennis’ fragmented governance model — and could reshape the economics of the game.
Doping Bans Hit Top Seeds
Jannik Sinner, the current world No. 1, and three-time Roland-Garros champion Iga Swiatek are both returning to Grand Slam play after doping-related suspensions.
Swiatek served a one-month ban late last year and has yet to rediscover her form, falling to No. 5 in the rankings after a dominant three-year run. She enters Roland-Garros without a finals appearance since her 2023 title.
Sinner missed three months but made an emphatic return by reaching the Italian Open final, losing only to Carlos Alcaraz. Despite the layoff, Sinner retained his top ranking heading into Paris.
Who Are the Favorites for Roland-Garros 2025?
- Carlos Alcaraz (Men’s No. 2): Coming off a strong showing in Rome, Alcaraz is a top favorite for a second consecutive French Open title and his fifth career Slam.
- Iga Swiatek (Women’s No. 5): Despite recent struggles, the Polish star remains a threat at her best surface. A fourth Paris crown would reaffirm her dominance on clay.
- Coco Gauff (No. 2 seed): Runner-up in 2022 and finalist in Rome, Gauff is eyeing her second Slam title at just 21 years old.
- Aryna Sabalenka (No. 1 seed): A powerful player and Grand Slam champion, Sabalenka’s best French Open result is a semifinal appearance two years ago.
- Jasmine Paolini: Last year’s runner-up and recent Rome champion, Paolini is gaining traction as a serious title contender.
- Mirra Andreeva: The 18-year-old rising star, ranked No. 6, has already won two WTA 1000 titles this year.
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