Wimbledon media boycott ends after talks with furious tennis stars

Wimbledon's media boycott by some of the world's biggest tennis stars has ended after players held "constructive meetings" with All England Club officials.

Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner were among the leading names who restricted their media duties to 15 minutes over the weekend in protest at the level of prize money offered by the Grand Slam tournaments.

The action had initially been expected to continue throughout the first week of the Championships.

But representatives for the players have now confirmed they will resume their full media commitments immediately following positive talks with Wimbledon organisers.

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The group, which also includes Grand Slam champions Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek, are pushing for the four majors to allocate a greater share of their revenue to players.

They are also seeking improved welfare contributions, including support for pensions and maternity leave.

The players had used the 15-minute limit as a symbolic gesture, reflecting the approximate percentage of revenue that the Grand Slams currently put towards prize money.

Their demand is for each major to increase prize money to 16 per cent of revenue, rising to 22 per cent by 2030.

A statement issued on behalf of the players said the boycott had been paused because Wimbledon had agreed to return with specific proposals.

"This decision is based on Wimbledon's commitment to return with specific proposals addressing all three points of the players' submission," the statement read.

"The underlying matters remain unresolved and players will carefully evaluate the proposals once received.

"Players will also be providing Wimbledon with further information they have requested in connection with those proposals during the course of the tournament.

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"Constructive dialogue with Wimbledon and the other Grand Slams will continue."

Wimbledon has already raised its prize fund by 20 per cent this year, the biggest annual increase in the tournament's history.

The total prize pot now stands at £64.2million, with organisers believing the rise represents a significant commitment to players.

The All England Club has also pointed to investment in player facilities as part of its wider support for competitors.

However, the players involved in the protest insist the issue extends beyond the very top of the sport.

Sabalenka said on Saturday that the action was intended to help lower-ranked players who struggle to cover the cost of travelling, coaching and competing on the tour.

"I hope we're not going to get to this boycotting again," Sabalenka said.

"We do it for the tour, we don't do it for ourselves.

"We do it for the rest of the players who are suffering to even hire [a] coach.

"It's not an easy life for players who are lower in the rankings."

There had already been signs that the protest was not being followed uniformly, with some players choosing to fulfil longer media commitments and others understood to be satisfied with Wimbledon's position.

But while the immediate boycott is over, the wider dispute remains unresolved.

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