Madrid Masters
Sabalenka all in on possible RG player boycott
Aryna Sabalenka would go along with a player boycott of the French Open as a controversy over paltry prize money blows up with the start of the Grand Slam now just weeks away.
The WTA world No. 1 is on board with a protest – the letter was also signed by men’s No. 1 Jannik Sinner – sent this week to tennis bosses complaining that players are getting underpaid by the four Grand Slams.
With Roland Garros starting on the Paris clay in just over a fortnight, a tense situation is getting critical.
She reinforced her militant stand on Tuesday prior to the start of the Rome Masters.
“Without us there wouldn’t be a tournament and there wouldn’t be that entertainment. I feel like definitely we deserve to be paid more (percentage (of tournament revenues),” the four-time Grand Slam winner who turned 28 on the day said.
“I think at some point we will boycott it. “I feel like that’s going to be the only way to fight for our rights.”
Players are seeking a larger slice of the pie at the majors, with the protest ignited as Paris announced a small prize money rise of around 10 percent.
ATP and WTA competitors say the USD 72 million total purse still gives them a lesser percentage of revenues, declining from 15.5 percent in 2024 to 14.9 for the upcoming edition.
Also joining the protest is Paris holder Coco Gauff, who takes her cues form women’s basketball in the US.
“Usually to make massive progress and things like this, it takes a union,” Gauff said. “We have to become unionized in some way. … We definitely can move more as a collective.”
But the Floridian said she had yet to hear any boycott threats.
Australian Open winner Elena Rybakina is also keen for serious action:
“If the majority (of players) say we are boycotting, we are not playing, then of course I’m up for it. It’s not only about raising the prize money.
“A lot of people are not aware that there is taxes which are big. You even make more prize money, but you giving it all to the taxes.”
Former world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who has won the Roland Garros title four times, is hoping for a peaceful solution.
“Hopefully before Roland Garros there’s going to be opportunity to have these type of meetings and we’ll see how they go.
“But boycotting the tournament, it’s a bit extreme kind of situation.”
Jannik Sinner vowed on Sunday to extend his historic Masters 1000 win streak and will plough ahead into the Rome Masters which begins next week.
The on-fire Italian claimed an historic fifth straight Masters 1000 title in succession at the weekend as he crushed two-time Madrid winner Alexander Zverev with the loss of just three games in a rout lasting for less than an hour.
Now, Sinner plans to test his luck by fronting up at the Foro Italico to play as top seed without the bother of rival Carlos Alcaraz in the draw as the Spaniard heals a long-term wrist injury.
Sinner has another goal in the back of his mind besides the home trophy: should he win Rome – a record sixth straight Masters 1000 title – he would complete a matched set of all nine Masters trophies.
“I think playing at home is always very special. At the same time, now I just want to enjoy this. I don’t want to think about future plans,” the native German-speaker who can garner scorn from “real” Italians, said.
“Physically, I’m good. There is no reason not to play Rome, of course. But at the same time, I want to enjoy this.
“It has been a very, very long tournament, starting from Indian Wells (early March) .
“Obviously very happy, but now it’s also good to recover. Especially also mentally, we did a lot. There is always a lot of pressure.”
While basking in the glow of setting a tennis record with his five Masters titles, Sinner is not obsessing over his achievement.
“I don’t compare myself with other players. I try to be the best possible version of myself, and that’s it. In the same time, it also depends, you know, day by day it’s always different.”
Main photo:- Jannik Sinner lifts Madrid Mutua trophy – by ISF Ltd
Jannik Sinner wrote more history on Sunday as the Italian lifted his fifth straight Masters 1000 title in a row, defeating Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2 in the Madrid final.
The 24-year-old world No. 1 is the first ever to construct such a victory streak in the elite ATP series. he lost only two sets along the way from las autumn’s Paris event to the Madrid final
He ran his overwhelming record over Zverev to 10-4, swamping the German from the start of a one-way final at the Caja Magica which lasted for only 57 minutes.
Sinner ran off a 5-0 lead in the opening set against the second seed and earned a break for 2-1 in the second as he completely dominated the title match.
The top seed set up three match points with an ace and needed only one as the error-prone Zverev drove a return wide.
Sinner, who is running away from injured rival Carlos Alcaraz at the top of the rankings, extended his current win streak to 23 matches.
He now heads to Rome, where winning that trophy would complete his career matched set of all nine Masters crowns.
“I started the match very well with an early beak,” the winner said. “I knew that Alexander was not playing his best today.
“I tried to stay on the front foot, I’m happy with the level that I’m playing.”
Sinner added; “It’s incredible winning a title like this, it means a lot to me and the team.
“(Winning five straight Masters titles) is This victory is a lot of dedication and sacrifice which I put in every day.
“But I know there will also be a down, which is normal. I still believe in myself and show up every day, at every practice session.”
Sinner now heads to Rome for next week’s masters start.
Winning the home trophy would complete his career matched set of all nine Masters crowns.
Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk slammed the door shut on the traditional post-match handshake with defeated finalist Mirra Andreeva after lifting the title on Saturday at the Madrid Masters.
Following the tradition of Ukrainian players facing Russian or Belarus opponents, Kostyuk went straight for the chair umpire instead of her beaten opponent after the 6-3, 7-5 finals win in Spain.
Teenaged Andreeva quietly sobbed into her towel after the slight, which is commonplace from Ukrainians even since the Russian invasion of February, 2022.
The 26th-ranked Ukrainian was competing in her first final at the 1000 level; Anreeva followed her opponent’s example and did greet the umpire before putting her head in a towel at her bench.
Kostyuk, who lost on one set her way to the title, won her 11th match in a row after also winning in Rouen, France.
“I want to thank all my opponents that I played this week. I mean, the girls pushed me to the limit, one of the most unbelievable matches for me these weeks. Very special two weeks here,” the emotional winner said.
Kostyuk played last January in the Brisbane final against world No. 1 Belorussian Aryna Sabalenka, also refusing to shake hands after that final.
“It has taken me many years to get here, not giving up, continuing to work consistently. I’m very proud of the effort I’ve put in,” Kostyuk said.
“A year ago, I thought it would never be possible to win here in Madrid, and now I ‘ve done it. I am very happy.”
She is the first player ranked outside the top 10 to win here since Petra Kvitova in 2011.
Main photo:- Marta Kostyuk with Madrid Trophy by ISF Ltd
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