American tennis star Coco Gauff has spoken out following the recent buzz surrounding a letter she co-signed with fellow top players to the Grand Slams. The group, which includes Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek, and others, called for reforms in prize money distribution and better player benefits.
What Did Coco Gauff Say in the Wake of Her, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner’s Letter to the Grand Slams?
Prize money distribution has long been a point of contention among players. Earlier in March, leading names like Alcaraz, Gauff, Sinner, Świątek, Novak Djokovic, and others formally urged the Grand Slams to boost prize money and deliver a fairer cut of revenues.
According to the Associated Press, players have yet again raised similar concerns. They are seeking a bigger portion of Grand Slam revenues, pushing for an increase from 16% to 22% by 2030. The letter, penned on July 30, further calls for $12 million in yearly pension, maternity, and health provisions.
Gauff is currently competing at the China Open and convincingly won her opener against Kamilla Rakhimova. At her post-match press conference, the American was questioned about the second letter and its potential to bring change.
SEALED WITH AN ACE 🔥@CocoGauff begins her Beijing defense with a convincing 6-4, 6-0 win over Rakhimova 💪#2025ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/BS8zqQdsd9
— wta (@WTA) September 26, 2025
Coco Gauff explained that the process has been ongoing since the BNP Paribas Open in March, when the top 10 players signed the letter. She noted that the group’s player representative manages the details. Gauff missed the recent meeting due to practice and received a summary update afterward.
“Yeah, overall it’s been a long, long process with that. We have a player representative. I like to keep most of the comments for him because they did have a meeting this week. I was not a part of it because I had practice at the same time. I did get a text message of a recap,” Gauff said.
“I wouldn’t say I fully know all the details what transpired as of last week. Overall I know this started Indian Wells this year when we all signed the letter, the top 10,” she added.
What Was the “Biggest Message” Gauff Highlighted?
Although the top tennis players spearhead the appeal, its goal extends to the welfare of all tour players, including those ranked between 200 and 300. Coco Gauff highlighted this same point during her press conference, stressing that the initiative is meant to benefit everyone, not just the elite.
“Yeah, I think the goal is just obviously increasing the percentage of prize money, but also making it better not just for us but throughout the field. The top 10 signed a letter as a representation of the entire tour, within the top 200 or top 300 I would say. Unfortunately it’s like that: the top players, you can put more pressure, your voices are heard a little bit more… I think the biggest message is not just to benefit us, it’s to benefit all the players,” she added.
In contrast to the March 21 letter, 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic is absent from this latest signatory list. The letter also stressed that prize money increases would be vital for lower-ranked athletes, whose first-round Grand Slam earnings can fund an entire season.
