Meetings have taken place between players and Grand Slam representatives. The players have made no progress in their request for benefit contributions, and rejected a meeting in Indian Wells in March to discuss the formation of a Grand Slam player council.
Grand Slam executives are currently limited in what they can discuss among themselves, or with the players, as they have been the subject of a lawsuit brought by the Professional Tennis Players’ Association which accuses them of “monopolistic control.”
Sinner expressed his disappointment at the 9.5% prize money offered by this month’s French Open – as players believe the total sum is still some way below the 22% of tournament revenue they feel entitled to.
The financial pot at last year’s US Open rose by 20%, with the figure for January’s Australian Open nearly 16% higher year on year.
“I think in the next couple of weeks we know also the prize money we’re going to have in Wimbledon,” Sinner said.
“We truly hope that it’s going to be better. Then, of course, US Open. So I do understand players talking about boycott because it’s somewhere we also need to start. It has been a very long time with this.”
Sinner stopped short of committing himself to boycotting one of the Slams.
“Of course, it’s tough to say. I cannot predict the future in a way,” he said.
“It’s the first time that I feel like the players are all in the same scenario and in the same point of view.
“I think it’s also right because without the players, they are not going to happen, any tournaments. In the same time we also know and we respect the tournaments because they make us bigger as athletes.
“Let’s see in the future.”
Djokovic also avoided a direct commitment to go on strike, but praised Sabalenka for her intervention.
“That’s a true leadership for me and I think she needs to maintain that. I salute that,” he added.
“We’re all part of the same sport. We all try to elevate the game, whether it’s players, tournaments, governing bodies. Unfortunately, often there is a conflict of interest that some people don’t want to address.
“I think that’s where the players really have the power. I’m always supportive of the stronger player position in the ecosystem.”
