Why players are limiting media time at the 2026 French Open

Aryna Sabalenka (Google Images)

One of the big stories at the 2026 French Open is the limited media time players will be giving the press. You may wonder why. The reason is because the players are united and upset that they are only receiving 14.3% of the total revenue at the second major of the season. This is compared to 22% of the total revenue at other ATP and WTA events according to ESPN.

Three of the notable players who are limiting media time include Aryna Sabalenka, Jannik Sinner, and Iga Swiatek. Sabalenka and Sinner reached the French Open final for the first time in 2025, while Swiatek is a four-time French Open champion, having last won in Roland Garros in 2024.

The fact that there is only a media protest could be considered a short-term sigh of relief for French Open organizers. That is because Sabalenka and American Coco Gauff were actually considering a boycott altogether.

It will now be interesting to see the amount of time TNT Sports will have with players. The French Tennis Federation is receiving $65 million per year over the next decade from TNT to cover the French Open. The agreement began in 2025. One could argue that this contract is at the root of the problem the French Tennis Federation is facing at the moment. When NBC and the Tennis Channel had the rights, the French Tennis Federation only received $12 million per year to cover the major to the United States. The players are simply looking to be compensated better from the latest television contract.