If the long history of anti-trust sporting cases tells us anything, it’s that the desired results demand long paths. The NBA’s free agency lawsuit, for instance, would go on to be a battle of six long years. So when the top ten Tennis players decided to hop on the very train on the back of PTPA’s lawsuit, they were in for a journey no better.

This summer, Carlos Alcaraz joined Coco Gauff and a host of other top players in sending a second letter to the four Grand Slams demanding clearer, fairer rules and a bigger share of tournament revenues. Dated July 30, the letter calls for raising the players’ revenue share from about 16% to 22% by 2030, bolstering pensions, health, and maternity benefits. About two months in, the Spaniard says, the process hasn’t been easy.

“I think right now, it’s a little bit a mess between everything, the ATP and the Grand Slams,” Alcaraz said in the press conference following his 6-4, 6-2 victory over Sebastian Baez at the Japan Open. He added that players are “trying to make things better” and want a more unified system that treats competitors equitably. 

The row was kick-started in March this year, when Novak Djokovic-led PTPA sued the sports’ governing bodies, namely ATP, WTP, and ITF for controlling players’ pay and working conditions. The second letter borrows from the demands. The set of Alcaraz & co. is asking for a larger share of the revenue after Djokovic previously noted that American sports, like the NFL, NBA, and baseball, split the revenue 50-50 among players and the league. 

Now, the grand slams have historically earned massive revenues on the backs of player stardom. In 2023, the US Open reportedly posted just over $514m, while the purse was capped off at $65m. Collectively, the grand slams are projected to generate around $1.4 billion per year, while the prize money among them stands at $440 million as of 2025. On a closer look, that’s an increase from about $250 million in 2024. It has come to be the organizers’ argument, too.

However, that’s evidently not enough for the players who have seen their top earners equal some of the other league’s least. For instance, Alcaraz’s $US 10 million in 2010, was only as good as the NFL’s 202nd best contract. In NBA terms, it was 146th. 

If the grand slams are earning those hefty sums, why the hold up?

• USTA (United States Tennis Association) argues that the organization is fundamentally different from leagues like the NBA and MLB, which the former noted as for-profit leagues. 
• The organizations behind the major four – All England Club, French Tennis Federation, Tennis Australia, and USTA – are obliged to spend millions of dollars on junior tennis development in their respective nations. 
• The promotions and constant upgradation of facilities demand huge sum.
• Millions of dollars they spend on player travel, housing, transportation and meals during tournament.

In short, the major four are the primary revenue generators for the supporting organizations and most of them, if not all, run on non-profit.

Nonetheless, one Australian Open spokesperson noted that the revenues from the ticket sales from the first Sunday of the tournament go directly to the players. But then again, the tug of war continues. The players who have been urging for a change in the current situation hired ex-WTA chief executive Larry Scott to help them in their cause. 

But while Alcaraz and the rest of the tennis community now wait to see how the next Australian Open decides to address their concerns, the 2025 US Open winner has his plate full.

On-court affairs demand Carlos Alcaraz’s immediate response

The 22-year-old came to Japan following a rather disappointing performance by Team Europe at the Laver Cup. And Tokyo hasn’t been kind to the 6-time Grand Slam winner, either. The weather conditions at the ATP 500 tournament have been less than welcoming, and in his first-round bout against the Argentinian, Alcaraz seemed to injure his ankle. With the score tied at 2-2, the top seed of the Japan Open had to take a timeout to receive mid-game medical treatment. While he still managed to bounce back from the setback thunderously, as expected of Alcaraz, by trouncing Baez in straight sets, he admitted later that a momentary scare couldn’t be avoided.

“I was scared, I’m not going to lie. When I planted the ankle, I was worried, because it didn’t feel good at the beginning,” Carlos confessed in his post-match interview. “I’m just happy that I was able to play after that, play such a good tennis finish the match quite good so, but lets see it’s not gonna be the next day for me, so I will try to recover and do whatever it takes, you know, to be ready for the next round to try to play,” he grinned, looking hopeful for the road ahead.

He does need all the motivation to keep playing like he does, though. After all, Tommy Paul’s coach, Brad Stine, only recently quipped how Alcaraz and Sinner are setting the benchmarks and that everyone else is playing catch-up. So, can Carlos keep holding onto his high seat? What do you reckon?