Aryna Sabalenka, with $32 million in prize money winnings, says she wants to see tennis players receiving bigger checks
Aryna Sabalenka Advocates for Higher Prize Money for Tennis Players
Aryna Sabalenka, who has accumulated $32 million in prize money, recently voiced her support for an increase in player earnings at tournaments. The World No. 1 spoke about the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) lawsuit, emphasizing the need for tennis players to receive a larger percentage of tournament revenue.
Sabalenka Weighs in on PTPA Lawsuit
The PTPA lawsuit, which targets tennis’ major governing bodies, has been a hot topic in the sport. During her press conference at the Miami Open, Sabalenka was asked about her stance. While she admitted she hadn’t looked deeply into the matter, she made it clear that she supports higher prize money distribution for players.
“Honestly, I haven’t had much time to look into it because I wanted to stay focused on my tennis and not get upset about it. But one thing I would like to see—maybe not just for WTA players, but for all players—is a larger percentage of the money they generate at tournaments, especially at Grand Slams. I think it’s fair. If you look at other sports, the revenue distribution is different, and that’s my only wish,” Sabalenka stated.
The Belarusian star secured her spot in the third round of the Miami Open with a dominant 6-3, 6-0 victory over Viktoriya Tomova.
Sabalenka Reacts to Iga Swiatek’s Statement on Indian Wells Controversy
Beyond the PTPA lawsuit, Sabalenka also made headlines with her reaction to Iga Swiatek’s response to a recent Indian Wells controversy.
During her semifinal loss to Mirra Andreeva, Swiatek accidentally hit back a ball thrown by a ball kid, nearly striking them in the process. The incident sparked backlash, prompting Swiatek to issue a statement. In her message, she apologized to the ball kid but also expressed frustration at the scrutiny, pointing out that other players also hit balls in frustration without facing the same level of criticism.
Sabalenka was among the many people who liked Swiatek’s post, signaling her support.
Sabalenka vs. Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the Miami Open Third Round
Sabalenka’s next challenge at the Miami Open will be a third-round showdown against Elena-Gabriela Ruse. The two have never faced each other before. Ruse secured her spot in the Round of 32 after eliminating 29th seed Magdalena Frech with a 6-4, 6-4 win.
Can Sabalenka continue her dominant run in Miami?
