Grand Slam player council takes centre stage as tennis campaign pauses

Players have paused their public campaign but could restart it if the council fails, The Guardian reported. The Grand Slam Player Advisory Council was announced jointly by the Australian Open, Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open in August, with its launch scheduled for after the 2026 tournament in New York.

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According to that joint announcement, the council is intended to give players a regular route to discuss tournament matters directly with organisers. The four majors said they were developing its membership, rules and working arrangements with player input. Interested competitors would be invited to apply, rather than having participation restricted to a group named in the announcement.

The framework distinguishes between issues that can be discussed collectively and financial matters handled separately. Sporting questions affecting all four majors will be considered jointly. Welfare and compensation, including prize money, will be discussed with each tournament individually. The organisers attributed that distinction to differences in their finances, governance and decision-making structures, as well as applicable legal requirements.

A separate USTA announcement provides one example of the work awaiting player representatives. The US Open committed an initial $2 million to a new Player Support Program, divided equally between men and women. The money was to remain in escrow while the programme's details were finalised, with the council helping to guide how support would be delivered.

The USTA said the scheme would complement existing retirement pension funds and help with events during players' careers as well as the transition out of competition. Eligibility was intended to cover US Open main-draw singles and doubles competitors without depending on ranking categories. Further details were to follow additional consultation, leaving the precise operation of the benefits programme subject to that process.

That commitment formed part of the US Open's announced $108 million compensation package for 2026, up from $90 million a year earlier. The package set singles champions' payments at $5.5 million and first-round main-draw singles payments at $140,000. Beyond those payouts, the council gives players a formal channel for continuing discussions about their experience at the majors.