“It’s absurd, really, the amount of travel we do, considering we don’t even get paid what we are supposed to get paid, as well, which is a joke,” Nick Kyrgios vented earlier this year. And he wasn’t wrong. According to the Berkeley Economic Review, Carlos Alcaraz, tennis’s top earner in 2022, made only $10 million, the same as the 202nd highest-paid NFL player and 146th highest-paid NBA player. But now, as calls for fairer GS pay grow louder, Kyrgios has raised eyebrows again by questioning the sudden timing. So, what does he have to say this time?
Recently, French sports outlet L’Équipe ignited headlines by reporting that a letter, co-signed by 20 of the top-ranked ATP and WTA players, was sent to the organizers of the sport’s four GS, demanding a substantial increase in prize money and stronger support for player welfare initiatives. The letter dated March 21, signed by prominent ATP and WTA players, championed fairer revenue sharing and enhanced player participation in decision-making processes.
Addressed to Craig Tiley (AO), Stephane Morel (Roland-Garros), Sally Bolton (Wimbledon), and Lew Sherr (US Open), the letter aims a bold push for change at the top level of the game. Players are not just calling out for more money, but a restructuring of the way tennis supports its athletes long-term. “In essence, this letter calls for a greater distribution of profits made by the four pillars of the circuit to benefit the main stakeholders: the players, without whom the show would not take place,” Romain Lefebvre, the L’Equipe’s reporter, explained.
Amidst the movement, Nick Kyrgios, never one to stay silent, has questioned the sudden surge in activism. The former Wimbledon finalist has stirred the pot once again, this time on his IG stories. Sharing a post from the popular tennis fan page Underarmserve, the Aussie star highlighted a quote that read, “Tennis top 20 push for prize money reform in recent joint letter.” Responding to that, Kyrgios wrote, “Why has it just all of a sudden started now?”
The post pointed to a telling example: in 2024, Roland-Garros distributed only 16% of its total event revenue as prize money, a figure that raised more than a few eyebrows across the tennis world. NBA players, in stark contrast, get 50% of the league’s total revenue.
Well, Kyrgios’s recent frustration over the delayed uproar for better pay is understandable as it’s rooted in his consistent stance on fair compensation. Back in August 2023, the former World No. 13 slammed the ATP’s new ‘Baseline’ initiative, which aimed to offer a guaranteed minimum wage for the top 250 ranked players. Under the scheme, players ranked 1–100 would earn $460,000 annually, with decreasing tiers for lower ranks. While the ATP promoted it as a step toward financial stability, the Aussie wasn’t convinced! Taking to X, he fired back with a bold statement: “Lol still not enough,” arguing that players deserved much more for the grind and sacrifice the sport demands.
And while he’s backed the player movement once again, the 29-year-old has also weighed in on the PTPA’s lawsuit against tennis governing bodies!
“Special moment in tennis” —Nick Kyrgios shares his views on the PTPA lawsuit against governing bodies
Founded in 2020 by Serbian icon Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil, the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) has long stood as a voice for players’ rights. Pospisil recently revealed that the group has engaged with over 300 players, earning strong backing, even from tennis’s elite. Now, the PTPA has taken a bold step forward, filing a lawsuit in New York that accuses the ATP, WTA, International Tennis Federation (ITF), and the International Tennis Integrity Agency of anti-competitive conduct and neglecting player welfare.
Among the 12 current and former players named as plaintiffs is the famous Aussie Nick Kyrgios, who has never shied away from speaking his mind. With trademark passion, Kyrgios made it clear: this fight isn’t just about today: it’s about shaping a fairer future for tennis.
Talking to Sky Sports, Nick said, “I know that myself and many of the players aren’t happy with the structures and everything that’s going on in tennis at the moment. This will be a special moment in tennis, for sure. Things needed to change. It’s a big day for tennis.”
As Kyrgios continues to make headlines off the court, all eyes are on his potential return at the Monte Carlo Masters. Will the Aussie silence the critics once more and make a deep, statement-making run in the tournament? Share your thoughts below!
The post Nick Kyrgios Raises Eyebrows Over Timing of Top 20 Stars’ Grand Slam Pay Push appeared first on EssentiallySports.
