Stan Wawrinka: Players are aiming at wrong target in Wimbledon pay row

Stan Wawrinka said players protesting Wimbledon prize money are targeting the wrong problem, as he argued the focus should shift to tennis’s wider payout structure rather than the Grand Slams. During Wimbledon on Saturday, Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka, the men’s and women’s world No. 1s, were among more than a dozen players taking part in a media boycott that limited interviews to 15 minutes each. The protest came despite Wimbledon announcing a 20% rise in prize money, taking the champions’ share to £3.6m and setting first-round payouts at £80,000. Wawrinka pointed to the ATP Tour’s bonus pool requirements—needing eight Masters 1000 events—arguing it can push year-round schedules and increase injury risk. He also criticized boycotting the press as a way to drive change.