The very best in men’s and women’s tennis recently sent a letter asking Grand Slams for more prize money.
News broke earlier this week that the top 20 ATP and WTA players sent a letter to the Grand Slams requesting more prize money.
Increased prize money was one of the main topics listed in the PTPA case that was launched in March.
The main criticism is that the four Grand Slam events: The Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open don’t offer enough prize money relative to the revenue they earn each year.
One top WTA star has now been asked for her thoughts on the letter, as she explains who the change would benefit most.
Qinwen Zheng says change to Grand Slam prize money would help lower ranked players ‘survive’
During her post-match press conference following Qinwen Zheng’s second-round win at the Charleston Open, the Chinese star gave her honest opinion on the letter sent to the four Grand Slams.
“I think that is going to be [of] more benefit to other players, not only the top players but especially those players who work hard during the year and need to get paid by the Slams to survive,” she said.
“They also need to pay for a good team to have a chance to win a match, so I think that [the move] is really positive.
“If you look to basketball, they get paid 50/50. The players are working really hard. I am a tennis player, I know how much I worked to arrive here so I believe that’s really positive for us.”
Zheng then revealed which Major champion told her about the plans to send a letter to the Grand Slams.
“[Victoria] Azarenka talked to me first about this idea,” she said.
“At the beginning, I thought it would be tough to make it happen, but they really did it, and it seems like it is a positive benefit for all the tennis players.
“I really believe when you are 100 in the world you need to build a good team to be able to arrive in a higher place so I think it’s more benefit for those players as well.”
The world number eight shared whether she believes the Grand Slams will listen to the top 20 players.
“This I don’t know,” Zheng admitted.
“We try to do what we can do, but at least we are trying.”
| Tournament | Total prize money (estimated) |
| Australian Open | $59,000,000 – 2025 |
| French Open | $58,500,000 – 2024 |
| Wimbledon | $65,000,000 – 2024 |
| US Open | $75,000,000 – 2024 |
Qinwen Zheng kickstarts 2025 clay season with two big wins at the Charleston Open
Finishing her 2024 season on a high, Zheng reached the final of the WTA Finals, losing out to Coco Gauff in a three-set thriller.
She was unable to carry that form through to the new year, however, and won just seven matches during the first three months of the season.
Moving onto the clay, Zheng has already found success, winning her opening two matches at the Charleston Open.
- 2025 Charleston Open 3R – Qinwen Zheng beat Elise Mertens, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
- 2025 Charleston Open 2R – Qinwen Zheng beat Maria Sakkari, 6-4, 6-1
In the quarterfinals, Zheng will take on Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova, who won eight consecutive matches earlier this year.
Zheng is no stranger to success on the clay, having won the biggest title of her career on the surface in 2024.
Shocking Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals, the Chinese star went on to win the Olympic Gold medal in Paris last year.
She’ll be hoping for more of the same when she returns to Roland Garros for the French Open in May but will first focus on winning in South Carolina.
Zheng will face off against Alexandrova for a place in the Charleston Open semi-finals on Friday, April 4.
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