By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday, April 4, 2025
Casper Ruud, currently ranked World No. 6, is one of the athletes supporting a recent initiative by the ATP and WTA’s Top 20 players. They’ve penned a letter addressed to the four Grand Slam tournaments, pushing for a change that could significantly impact the sport.
This past weekend, while competing at the UTS event in Nimes, France, Ruud shared his thoughts on the primary focus of the letter: they’re seeking a larger slice of the revenue pie from the major tennis tournaments.
“As players, it doesn’t seem right to us,” Ruud told AFP. “If you look at other big leagues like the NFL, MLB, and NBA, their revenue sharing models are much closer to a 50% split. I doubt we’ll ever achieve that kind of parity, but every little bit closer would mean a lot.”
Ruud noted that the players aren’t really in the loop about the Grand Slams’ operating costs. This lack of insight makes it tough to grasp the actual profits being made.
“The real issue is that we don’t have enough transparency about how the Grand Slams manage their revenue and profits,” he explained.
Ruud, alongside other players, finds it frustrating that transparency is lacking, especially when decisions affecting revenue and player obligations are made without their input.
He highlighted recent changes like Roland Garros and the US Open extending their tournaments to 15 days as examples.
“Mostly, these decisions are made without consulting us or asking for our feedback,” he said. “There have been several changes over the years, and we feel it’s time to call for a discussion to address such issues.”
The AFP reported that a representative from the FFT acknowledged receipt of the letter and expressed interest in meeting with the players. They suggested having the meeting at either the Madrid Open or Roland Garros. “We’ve responded by proposing a direct, open, and constructive meeting during the Madrid Open from April 22 to May 4 or at Roland Garros from May 25 to June 8, or whenever it suits everyone best,” the FFT spokesperson said.
