The world’s number 1 tennis player, Aryna Sabalenka, had to explain a situation that generated controversy at Roland Garros. She appeared with luxury jewelry valued at around R$ 760,000 during the tournament, while participating in the movement of athletes for a greater division of the revenues of the Parisian tournament. Sabalenka denied any contradiction between her luxurious lifestyle and her fight for better prizes for players with a lower ranking. According to her, the issue has no relation to her own financial situation, but rather to the fight for a fair division of revenues to benefit athletes who really need it.
Sabalenka is the current champion of the US Open 2025 and seeks her first final of Wimbledon. She won her last match at Roland Garros and, in the press conference after the match, the accessories used by the tennis player drew attention and ended up becoming a topic. Sabalenka used necklaces and earrings made of diamonds and garnets during the game at Roland Garros. The pieces exceed 130,000 euros in estimated value and appeared both on the court and in the conference given by the athlete. The discussion about the percentage of revenue destined for prizes in the Grand Slam is a hot topic among athletes, who ask for a greater participation in the money collected by the tournament.
The complaint of the players involves the percentage of revenue destined for prizes in the Grand Slam. Even after announcing an increase in the values of this edition, Roland Garros continues to be the target of charges from athletes who ask for a greater participation in the money collected by the tournament. Sabalenka stated that she does not understand how two such different things can be confused and that her fight is for players with a lower ranking, who really struggle to survive in the world of tennis. She completed saying that everyone knows she is fine and that they fight for a fair division of revenues and also for lower-ranking athletes, for those who return from injury, so that the next generation feels more comfortable entering the top 10.
Now, Sabalenka and the other athletes await the response of the Roland Garros organization regarding the issue of prizes. The tournament continues and attention turns to the next matches and to the definition of the finalists. The situation may have important implications for the future of women’s tennis and for the way tournaments are organized and financed.
