Wimbledon 2026 opens with Sinner, Sabalenka as players protest prize‑money split

The 2026 Wimbledon Championships begin with world‑number‑one Jannik Sinner and top‑seed Aryna Sabalenka headlining the first‑round schedule. Both will face Serbian opponents—Sinner versus Miomir Kecmanovic and Sabalenka versus Teodora Kostovic—while other top players such as Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff and Emma Raducanu also start their campaigns.

A group of leading players have limited post‑match press conferences to 15 minutes as a symbolic protest over Grand‑Slam prize‑money distribution. They argue that prize money now represents only about 14‑15 % of tournament revenue and call for a larger share, around 22 %. Wimbledon responded by raising total prize money by 20 % year‑on‑year, with singles champions set to receive £3.6 million each.

Sabalenka said the protest is about helping lower‑ranked players survive on tour, while Sinner, when asked, deflected to talk about tennis, noting that negotiations are improving but that “it’s not only about the money”. The protest began at the French Open and continues at Wimbledon.

Sinner has also spoken about his preparation, training in hotter conditions after a shock second‑round loss at Roland Garros, and emphasised small physical tweaks ahead of his title defence. The opening day also features matches for other seeds and newcomers, marking a high‑profile start to the tournament.