Sabalenka, Pegula welcome US Open prize money boost, new player council

Aug 28 : Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula praised the U.S. Open's record prize money allocation and the creation of a Grand Slam player advisory council, saying calls for competitors to get a larger share of the revenue were beginning to gain traction.

The U.S. Open announced a record $108 million prize purse for this year's tournament, while the four Grand Slams unveiled plans for an advisory council following growing pressure from leading players for increased prize money and a bigger role in decisions affecting the sport.

World number one Sabalenka, a vocal supporter of efforts to improve player compensation, said the developments could help ease tensions between players and tournament organisers. 

"We're super happy ... that we're finally getting to the point where we wanted to be at the very beginning," the Belarusian told reporters on Friday.

"Hopefully we're not gonna boycott media or tournament or anything in the future. We all going to be happy, and that's all we wanted from the very beginning."

Sabalenka and men's world number one Jannik Sinner were among the top players who limited their pre-tournament media availabilities at the French Open and Wimbledon this year ​to 15 minutes as part of a protest to demand a higher percentage of ​tournament revenue for prize money.

The 15-minute limit was intended to symbolise the roughly 15 per cent of tournament ‌revenue that ⁠the tournaments allocated to player prize money.

PLAYER COUNCIL 

American Pegula, who has taken on a leadership role in discussions involving players and tennis's governing bodies, said unity between the men's and women's tours had helped produce tangible progress.

"I think it's been amazing what the players have been able to accomplish," Pegula said.