Jasmine Paolini Addresses Fellow Players’ Roland Garros Boycott Threat over Prize Money: “We Are All United”

Jasmine Paolini is all set to start her title defense at the Italian Open. But before starting her campaign, the home favorite addressed the Grand Slam prize money disputes in the pre-tournament press conference.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka said players could boycott a Grand Slam tournament if their demands for a greater share of revenue generated are not met. Six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek thinks boycotting a tournament will be an “extreme” step, but Elena Rybakina is ready to join the possible boycott, and so is Coco Gauff.

It’s a popular topic. I think we do it to improve the situation for players, especially regarding pensions and maternity leave. Grand Slams do not address this issue, while the WTA does. That’s the difference; we are fighting for it.

Jasmine Paolini said

The Roland Garros kicks off on May 24th. The total prize money is $72.1 million, and from this, the winners and runners-up will get $3.25 million and $1.6 million, respectively.

The positive thing is that we are all united, all moving in the same direction. The Grand Slams increase the prizes a bit, but not as a percentage of how much more they earn. Above all, they do not contribute to solving other problems. If we all agree, and I believe we do, we could consider boycotting them.

Jasmine Paolini added

Paolini will be hoping to make a deep run in her home tournament, having failed to do so in any event this year, except for the Merida Open, where she reached the semifinals, only to lose in straight sets to Cristina Bucsa. She played two singles finals last year. After her win in Rome, she lost the Cincinnati Open to Swiatek.

Last year in Rome, Paolini defeated Gauff to win her career’s second Big Title in singles. In 2024, she defeated Anna Kalinskaya to win the Dubai Tennis Championships.

Jasmine Paolini likes press conferences, unlike Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner joked in a press conference that he hates talking to reporters. Jasmine Paolini understands why the World No.1 thinks this way, but unlike him, she finds meaning in her conversations with journalists.

Imagine having a bad period in your life and having to talk about it to everybody. It’s not easy. Sometimes I agree with Jannik, but other times it’s good to say something about yourself, to make people understand you better… Imagine having a bad period in your life and having to talk about it to everybody. It’s not easy. Sometimes I agree with Jannik, but other times it’s good to say something about yourself, to make people understand you better.

Jasmine Paolini told Clay

Sinner failed to cross the final hurdle in last year’s Rome event, losing in straight sets to Carlos Alcaraz, who is not playing the event due to a wrist injury he suffered during the Barcelona Open. This will only help the four-time Major champion increase his lead in the rankings over the Spaniard, who will also be skipping the French Open, where last year he defeated Sinner, while in 2024 he beat Alexander Zverev.

Sinner dethroned the Murcia native from the No.1 spot after downing him in the Monte Carlo final, which made him the second man after Novak Djokovic to win the first three Majors of the season. Sinner, with his straight-set win over Zverev in the Madrid Open, has become the first man to win the first four Masters 1000s of the season.

The Madrid title was Sinner’s third title on clay. In Rome, he will be chasing a Career Golden Masters. If he wins four matches in Rome, he will break Djokovic’s record of a 31-match winning streak in the Masters 1000s.

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