Pegula putting family experience in NFL and NHL to use in tennis prize money protest

ROME (AP) 鈥� Talk of a boycott from top-ranked and has grabbed attention.

Behind the scenes, it鈥檚 been , the , organizing the top tennis players in their protest with the Grand Slams over the share of tournament revenues devoted to prize money.

It comes naturally to Pegula, who grew up in a household of sports managers: the NFL鈥檚 Buffalo Bills and the NHL鈥檚 Buffalo Sabres.

鈥淚 think it maybe does (come naturally) just because I feel like I鈥檝e taken on a bit of a leadership role with it,鈥� Pegula said.

Already this year, No. 5-ranked Pegula was named to lead a to suggest changes to the women鈥檚 tennis calendar, rankings points rules and the requirements about competing in certain events. Now she’s taking on the prize money issue, too.

鈥淚鈥檓 not afraid to go up to any type of player and go like, 鈥楬ey, are you interested in this or not?鈥�” Pegula said. “Some players, they don鈥檛 care, sometimes they鈥檙e not worried about it. Sometimes they鈥檙e like, 鈥橸eah, for sure, I鈥檓 100% in.’ I鈥檝e been reaching out to players on the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 side.鈥�

Sabalenka said last week the for a bigger slice of tournament revenue, while Sinner said there鈥檚 a lack of respect.

鈥淎t the end of the day the players are the ones that have the big voices,鈥� Pegula said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been nice to see Aryna and Jannik kind of step out. I know a lot of other players feel the same way. But to have the two No. 1s very outspoken about it, that鈥檚 kind of what it takes to get them to listen.鈥�

Players’ share dropped in Paris

Whereas in the NFL and NHL athletes take home about 50% of the revenues, at most tennis events the number isn鈥檛 even half of that. The upcoming French Open is allegedly devoting under 14.9% to the players 鈥� down from 15.5% in 2024, according to a players鈥� protest statement issued last week.

Roland Garros organizers announced last month they were increasing overall prize money by about 10% for an overall pot of 61.7 million euros ($72.1 million), with the total amount up 5.3 million euros from last year. But the players鈥� said that the the underlying figures tell a very different story.

鈥淚t鈥檚 crazy. It鈥檚 an insane difference. Obviously they鈥檙e different sports. They鈥檙e run differently,” Pegula said, comparing tennis to the NFL. “But tennis has been a very old-school sport. I think it鈥檚 one of the things that needs to change. Sometimes change is good. Sometimes that means fighting for things.鈥�

The same group of players sent a a year ago to the heads of the four Grand Slams seeking more prize money and a greater say in decision-making. Wimbledon increased its 2025 total pot by 7%, the U.S. Open by 20% and the Australian Open this past January by 16%.

Still, the players say the Grand Slams don鈥檛 match the rate of 22% at regular ATP and WTA Tour events.

鈥淭he slams have kind of just gotten away with paying not that much because we鈥檙e a very individual sport,鈥� Pegula said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to get players to come together. We鈥檙e not on a salary where football players or basketball players can afford not to play.鈥�

Organizers at the French Open, which starts in less than two weeks, have not responded to requests for comment.

Wimbledon is due to announce its prize money next month and Pegula said the players have not had a response from the All England Club.

鈥淲e鈥檙e just going to kind of continue to talk amongst ourselves,鈥� she said.

One of the big issues affecting tennis governance is that there are seven organizing bodies: The four Grand Slams, the ATP, the WTA and the International Tennis Federation.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 what makes it so hard is that our sport is super fragmented. Hard to get everybody on the same page,鈥� Pegula said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why it鈥檚 been huge to actually have the top 10 men and women really come together. I鈥檓 hoping that will get the Slams鈥� attention.鈥�

Pegula advances in Rome

Before she gets to Paris, Pegula has been perfecting her clay-court game at the Italian Open, where she reached the quarterfinals with a 7-6 (6), 6-2 win over Anastasia Potapova on Monday. She routed Rebeka Masarova 6-0, 6-0 in the previous round.

Pegula will next face three-time Rome champion Iga Swiatek or four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.

Sabres’ playoff run

In between her matches and prize money activist duties, Pegula has been struggling to watch to the playoffs for the first time in 15 years due to the time difference between the U.S. and Europe.

The Montreal 6-2 in Game 3 on Sunday night to take a 2-1 lead in their second-round playoff series.

鈥淢y gosh, I am so upset that I have not been able to see any of the games,鈥� Pegula said. 鈥淚 would give anything to just be at a playoff game. 鈥� I love it so much. It鈥檚 my favorite thing.鈥�

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