Dissent In Paris, But The Roland-Garros 2026 Grand Slam Show Goes On

By Barry Janoff

May 23, 2026: The second tennis Grand Slam of the season has arrived in Paris in grand fashion, with top players seeking victory and reward at Roland-Garros.

But not without significant push-back from the competitors.

Prize money at this year's French Open is up by 9.5%, taking the total purse to $72.69 million), with the men’s and women’s singles champions earning $3.25 million each, according to organizers.

Players have organized regarding their problem with other issues: revenue sharing, player welfare and representation, raising the temperature on the issues to match the 90-degree heat expected to cover the Grand Slam.

"According to tournament officials, Roland-Garros generated 395 million euros ($462,481,800) in revenue in 2025, a 14% year-on-year increase, yet prize money rose by just 5.4%, reducing players' share of revenue to 14.3%," players including Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff, said, according to AP Sports and ESPN.

"With estimated revenues of over 400 million euros ($468,426,000) for this year's tournament, prize money as a percentage of revenue will likely still be less than 15%, far short of the 22% that players have requested to bring the Grand Slams into line with the ATP and WTA Combined 1000 events."

Also, according to AP Sports and ESPN, “While other major international sports are modernizing governance, aligning stakeholders, and building long-term value, the Grand Slams remain resistant to change," players said. "The absence of player consultation and the continued lack of investment in player welfare reflect a system that does not adequately represent the interests of those who are central to the sport's success."

A meeting on Friday, May 22, among representatives from the French Tennis Federation (which oversees the French Open),  players’ representative Larry Scott and a group of player agents had positive results, with the FFT promising to present “detailed proposals within a fortnight of the finals at Roland Garros, with the players adamant an increase in prize money must take place alongside discussions over welfare and player representation.,” according to The Guardian.

By comparison, the 2025 U.S. Open offered the largest prize fund of the Grand Slams last year with $90 million,.Wimbledon in 2025 paid a total of $72.40 million.

The 2026 Australian Open offered $79.92 million in prize money earlier this year.

Roland-Garros runs May 24-June 7, with full coverage in the U.S. via TNT Sports and support from Tennis Channel.

Lead sponsors include BNP Paribas; Premium Partners Emirates, LaCoste, Renault and Rolex; Accor, Engie, Haier, Infosys, MasterCard, Perrier and Wilson.

Missing from the action will be two-time defending men’s singles champ Carlos Alcaraz, who withdrew from the Grand Slam (as well as Wimbledon and other events) due to a right wrist injury. Also missing on the men’s side will be French-player Arthur Fils, Lorenzo Musetti, Jack Draper and Holger Rune.

Defending women’s singles champ Gauff leads a roster that features four-time Roland-Garros winner Iga Świątek (2020, 2022-24)  and No. 1 ranked Sabalenka, seeking her first French Open title.

Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam singles champion — including three French Open titles (2016, 2021, 2023) — is playing for a career record-setting 25th Slam title.

Unlike other Grand Slams and many major ATP and WTA events, there will be line judges as electronic line-calling (ELC) systems have not yet been adopted by the French Tennis Federation.

However, for the first time, players can wear data-collecting portable devices on court “to gain information on their physical performances,” tournament director Amélie Mauresmo said via the French Tennis Federation.

In 2026, Roland‑Garros will pay tribute to its heritage, its history and its champions.

A tribute is scheduled to May 26 on Centre Court, to mark 70 years since Althea Gibson’s victory at Roland‑Garros (1956). “By lifting the trophy on Parisian clay, she became the first woman of color to win a Grand Slam singles title,” according to organizers..

A ceremony honoring Caroline Garcia is scheduled to take place on Court Philippe‑Chatrier on June 4 between the women’s singles semi‑finals. After 19 seasons on the professional tour, the former world No.4 ended her career in 2025.

On the men’s side, Stan Wawrinka – champion in 2015 and finalist in 2017 – will compete in his 21st and final Roland‑Garros in 2026. Tournament organizers said they would honor him following his last match at Porte d’Auteuil.

Gaël Monfils will also bid farewell to Parisian clay. He, too, will be celebrated on court after his final appearance. 

In its second season since acquiring rights to Roland-Garros, TNT Sports TNT, truTV and Max will have almost 300 hours of average.

Two weeks of coverage from Paris will employ the services of and input including Venus Williams, Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Lindsay Davenport, Jim Courier, ohn Isner and Genie Bouchard, who joins TNT Sports as on-site contributor.

“This talented lineup for Roland Garros will deliver an energetic blend of authenticity, credibility, and personality to every moment of this iconic major,” Craig Barry, TNT Sports evp and chief content officer,, said via the network.

“In our second year, we will continue to push the coverage delivering a presentation that’s as dynamic and distinctive as the event itself.”

TNT Sports coverage will include more than 300 hours of televised world-class match coverage, studio programming and all-day whiparound action across TNT, truTV, HBO Max, Bleacher Report and House of Highlights platforms.

TNT will showcase marquee matches and featured windows, along with Live at Roland-Garros presented by Vanda Pharmaceuticals pre- and post-match studio coverage.

truTV will serve as a whiparound hub for daytime coverage, with Rally at Roland-Garros presented by Raymond James offering live look-ins, highlights and analysis throughout the day’s play.

First and Second Round matches will be presented by AT&T Business, while Quarterfinals and Finals matched will be presented by Raymond James.

HBO Max returns as the exclusive streaming destination for all Roland‑Garros coverage. Subscribers on supported plans will be able to take advantage of features,

Tennis Channel will air match replays as well as TC Live at Roland-Garros with nightly recaps, analysis, and interviews. 

Tennis.com will have articles and coverage throughout the tournament.

Men’s Draw

Women’s Draw

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