**Title: Aryna Sabalenka Defends Prize Money Protest Ahead of Wimbledon**
**By CyprusDailyLife News Team**
Wimbledon, England – Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one and top seed at Wimbledon, has publicly defended a protest regarding prize money initiated by leading players, despite the tournament announcing a record 20 percent increase in its prize pool for this year. The Belarusian player emphasized that the protest is aimed at improving conditions for lower-ranked players rather than for the benefit of top competitors.
The total prize money for Wimbledon in 2026 has reached £64.2 million ($84.7 million), which represents about 15 percent of the tournament's revenue. This figure falls short of the 16 percent that players, including Sabalenka, have been advocating for, which would equate to approximately £70 million ($92.4 million).
Sabalenka, who is part of a group represented by former WTA chief executive Larry Scott, expressed her hope that the players' concerns would lead to meaningful discussions about player welfare and financial distribution in the sport. During a recent press conference, she acknowledged the increase in prize money but pointed out that when compared to figures from 2016, the percentage of revenue allocated to players has not improved significantly.
“It’s a great start, they raise the prize money. It’s an amazing start,” Sabalenka stated. “If you look over the last 10 years, if you compare the prize money to 2016, it’s kind of like the same [as a percentage] because it went down.” She added that her goal is to reach a resolution that satisfies all parties involved, hoping that this would be the last time such a protest would be necessary.
The prize for winning Wimbledon this year is set at £3.6 million ($4.7 million), an increase from the £3 million ($4 million) awarded to the champions in 2025. Additionally, first-round losers will see their earnings rise to £80,000 ($106,000), up from £66,000 ($87,100).
When questioned about the potential disconnect between the complaints of top players—many of whom are multimillionaires—and the public's perception, given the rising costs of tickets and food, Sabalenka clarified the intention behind the protest. “We do it for the tour, we don’t do it for ourselves,” she said. “We do it for the rest of the players who are suffering to even hire a coach. It’s not an easy life for lower-ranked players.”
The All England Club, which organizes Wimbledon, expressed its disappointment regarding the protest, stating that it was “surprised and disappointed” by the actions of the players. The club highlighted that this year's increase in prize money is the largest in the event's history and noted its ongoing investment of hundreds of millions of pounds in player facilities to enhance the experience for competitors.
As Sabalenka prepares for her matches at Wimbledon, she is also working to regain her confidence following a challenging performance at the French Open, where she lost her last ten games in a quarterfinal match against Russian player Diana Shnaider. She has since sought assistance from her psychologist to help her move past that experience. “Overall, I feel like things are clicking back together,” she remarked.
As the tournament progresses, the focus will remain on the balance between rewarding top players and ensuring that lower-ranked athletes receive adequate support and compensation, a topic that continues to spark debate within the tennis community.