World No. 3 Alexander Zverev has voiced strong criticism regarding the distribution of prize money at Grand Slam tournaments, highlighting a significant disparity that he believes is unfair to professional tennis players.
Speaking after his second-round victory over fellow German Daniel Altmaier at the Rome Masters, Zverev addressed the growing discontent among players concerning their share of the revenue generated by the sport's four biggest events.
"We didn't talk about a boycott," Zverev clarified, referencing earlier speculation. "If you look at the prize money distribution in other sports, it's approximately 50/50. We, as players, receive only about 15% – both men and women. That's what frustrates us as athletes."
The German star emphasized the financial challenges faced by professional tennis players, noting that only around 150 male players and even fewer female players can currently make a living solely from the sport. He argued that a fairer distribution model, aligned with other major sports, would allow a much larger number of players to earn a sustainable income.
Zverev pointed to his own grueling experiences on court to underscore his point. "My Roland Garros final lasted six hours, and my semifinal against Carlos [Alcaraz] was five and a half hours," he said. "I believe a match like that is worth more than 15%."
The primary goal, according to Zverev, is to develop tennis and make it more profitable for a significantly greater number of players, not just those ranked within the top 100. He views the current 15% share as fundamentally unjust.
His comments come amid broader discussions within the tennis community about the economic model of the sport and how revenue from its most prestigious tournaments is shared with the athletes who compete in them.
Based on reporting from Чемпионат.com.