Aryna Sabalenka’s threat to boycott French Open will not happen – there’s 2.8m reasons why it makes no sense

Respected tennis commentator Marcus Buckland believes a mooted Grand Slam boycott has zero chance of getting off the ground.

The threat of a boycott from tennis’ top players over a pay dispute gathered steam on Tuesday during Aryna Sabalenka‘s press conference ahead of the Italian Open.

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Sabalenka, ranked No.1 in the WTA, claimed ‘at some point’ players will boycott the four majors because it’s ‘going to be the only way to fight for our rights.’

Why are tennis’ top players threatening to boycott?

The Belarusian was also among a group of the world’s top 20 male and female stars who issued a joint statement expressing their frustration over the prize money up for grabs at the French Open, which begins on May 18.

“Roland Garros generated €395m in revenue in 2025, a 14 per cent year-on-year increase, yet prize money rose by only 5.4 per cent, reducing players’ share of revenue to 14.3 per cent,” the statement read.

“With estimated revenues of more than €400m for this year’s tournament, prize money as a percentage of revenue will likely still be less than 15 per cent, far short of the 22 per cent that players have requested to bring the grand slams into line with the ATP and WTA tours. As Roland Garros looks to post record revenues, players are therefore receiving a declining share of the value they help create.”

Despite the threat from the ATP and WTA’s elite, Buckland does not see the group putting their money where their mouth is.

Marcus Buckland’s verdict on tennis boycott

When asked if the players will follow through on their boycott threat, Buckland told talkSPORT’s White and Jordan: “Never in a million years. No, absolutely not.

“There is a precedent, back in 1973 there were 81 ATP players who boycotted Wimbledon over a row surrounding Nikki Pillage when he’d been banned from the event because he refused to play in a Davis Cup tie.

“That was a very different issue. I cannot see any way they’re talking about this collective power. Sure. A few of them might say it’s a good idea, but no it just is not workable.

“I do understand the players’ concerns but it looks awful really when somebody like Sabalenka is complaining because on the face of it everyone’s gonna go, ‘What is she moaning about if she wins the French?’

“She’s gonna pick up €2.8million (£2.4m). Now I do see why they want as a collective body a bigger share of the revenue.

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“But I don’t think talking about boycotting Slams is the way to go about it.”

With just under three weeks before the first round of the French Open, there is still time for the world’s best to boycott the tournament.

Should the unlikely event transpire, Buckland pointed out an unheralded star could take advantage of a weakened field at Roland Garros.

Silver lining for rest of the tour amid boycott threat

“In terms of the figures, they’re going to get about 15 per cent of the total revenue,” Buckland continued.

“The French reckon they’re going to make more than €400million out of the two weeks at Roland Garros this time around.

“Now on the regular ATP and WTA tours the players do get around 22 per cent of the revenue. That is what they want.

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“Obviously, that’s a sizable increase but to threaten to boycott just doesn’t make any sense because a few of them might.

“But if they do, there’s plenty of others who want to come in and play and suddenly have a much bigger chance of winning the 2.8 million themselves.”