Aryna Sabalenka, the world number two, has withdrawn from the French Open amid escalating player protests. Sources confirm Sabalenka left Roland Garros late Tuesday after a closed-door meeting with tournament officials. The protest, led by a coalition of top players, centres on prize money discrepancies, scheduling disputes, and lack of player representation in governance.
British tennis officials have seized the moment, calling for an overhaul of the International Tennis Federation's (ITF) leadership. Documents uncovered by this newsroom reveal a decade of financial mismanagement and favouritism at the ITF. One senior British official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: 'The players have had enough.
The so-called guardians of the sport are running it into the ground. We need a complete governance review, not just a Band-Aid.' Sabalenka's camp declined to comment, though a source close to her confirmed she will not play until the ITF addresses 'systemic issues'.
The protest is the largest since the 2020 US Open dispute over COVID-19 protocols. With Wimbledon on the horizon, the pressure is mounting. The question now is not if reform will come, but how much blood will be spilled on the clay before it does.
