Jessica Pegula has indicated that WTA players are still considering the possibility of a protest at the 2026 US Open, pending the tournament’s final decision on prize money. Speaking at the Cincinnati Open on Monday, the WTA Player Council representative emphasized that no definitive boycott has been decided upon yet, as players await clarity on the financial terms offered by the US Open.
Jessica Pegula Leads US Open Protest Conversations
“We’re still waiting on a prize money announcement, so we haven’t really made any big decisions,” Pegula stated, highlighting that the ongoing discussions hinge on the tournament’s forthcoming purse update.
The core issue revolves around the distribution of revenue generated by the US Open. In 2024, the tournament amassed over $559 million in operating revenue, yet players received only $75 million—a mere 13.4% of total profits. Although there was an increase last year to $90 million, equating to a 15% share, athletes from both the WTA and ATP tours are advocating for Grand Slam events to allocate 22% of revenue to players by 2030.
Despite the unresolved dispute, Pegula noted that talks have been progressing constructively. “They have definitely come to the table as far as wanting to change some of the stuff that’s been going on,” she remarked. “We’ve been in more communication with a lot of the Grand Slams, especially the US Open. They’ve been very open to wanting to improve things.”