Rafael Nadal disagrees with Novak Djokovic and other top players in Grand Slam prize money debate
Published 05/07/2026 at 19:50 GMT+1
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Rafael Nadal has weighed into the debate over prize money at Grand Slams by arguing that, compared to other occupations, tennis players are already compensated well enough at the game’s four showpiece events.
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The opinion of the Spaniard is in contrast to those expressed by some of the top players in the men’s and women’s games, who believe they deserve a greater share of the revenue generated at Grand Slams.
As it stands, around 22% of the money from ATP and WTA events is distributed to the players, but the share is not as high at the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.
The prize money at Grand Slams is on the rise, though. The United States Tennis Association increased its purse for last year’s US Open by 20% to $90 million (£67m), while the prize money at Roland-Garros this year rose by nearly 10%.
This year’s Wimbledon has also been boosted by a 20% rise in prize money but, with the rate at which overall Grand Slam revenues are increasing, players believe they are entitled to a greater cut than the current figure of around 15%.
Novak Djokovic is among the players who have called for change. Last year he described the increase in prize money as ”a step in the right direction” but said more should be done.
”Obviously, it's always nice and positive to see that Grand Slams are willing to improve the prize money overall across the board for the players,” Djokovic said before of last year’s US Open.
”Whether it's an ideal situation for us, I think overall I don't think so. I think there is still a lot more room for improvement in that sense.”
Djokovic also insisted his take on the matter is not driven by individual greed; rather, he argued it’s for the benefit of the sport as a whole.
He added: ”I see that in the past when I talk about this topic, people like to say, 'Well, look at him, wanting more money for himself.’ It's not about that.
”I'm just talking about overall. Not many tennis players live out of this sport globally. That's not something that I see has been talked about enough.
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”It's also important to understand that we live in a very commercial world. Entertainment and sports business are very big.
”And for Grand Slams, they are doing very well as well. So the US Open increased the prize money. Other slams are doing it too. But they also have a bigger revenue than the previous year.
”Then there is the inflation part, which is a completely different topic, but important to take in consideration when you talk about these things.”
Nadal, comparing the situation to what it was back when he was competing at the top of his game, believes the recent increases at Grand Slams should be more than adequate.
”If you see how much the players were getting 15 years ago and the amount of prize money that they are getting today, you see that the average increase is way over the average of any job in this world,” Nadal said during an interview with CNBC Meets.
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”I don’t think players should share the tournaments’ revenues. I think players should come to an agreement with the Grand Slams. Say, ‘I want my prize money to increase by 5%, 10%, 15% or 3% each year.’
”Find a deal like that and stick with it. The Grand Slams commit to increasing prize money by an agreed percentage each year.
"That’s fair for the players and fair for the tournaments. Sign the deal for 10 years so we have 10 years of calm.”
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