The American player weighed in on social media during ongoing discussions about financial structures in tennis ahead of the French Open, responding to an Instagram post by renowned coach Patrick Mouratoglou.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mouratoglou\u2019s post focused on the percentage of Grand Slam revenues returned to players compared to ATP and WTA Tour events, a subject that has dominated conversations among top players during the ongoing Italian Open 2026 in Rome. \u201cIf you\u2019re not top 50, you net more as a teaching pro in South Florida,\u201d Opelka wrote in the comments section of Mouratoglou\u2019s post.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 28-year-old American also echoed concerns raised this week by players including Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, and Aryna Sabalenka regarding the percentage of tournament revenues distributed to competitors.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cTennis is the ultimate meritocracy. We don\u2019t need government grants; we need transparency. The fact that the USTA, LTA, FFT, and TA are all \u2018non-profits\u2019 should tell you everything you need to know. I\u2019m always sceptical of organisations without direct market accountability. If the players are the product and only receive 14% of revenues, where is the money going?\u201d Opelka continued.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The comments came in response to Mouratoglou\u2019s broader criticism of the sport\u2019s financial structure. The veteran coach argued that Grand Slam tournaments return a significantly lower share of their revenue to players than regular tour events.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThis year, the winner of Roland Garros will win 2.8 million euros. The one who loses in the first round loses 87,000 euros. It\u2019s difficult to understand for the fans that players who make so much money want more, and I can get that. The real question is not how much money they make. The real question is, how is the money distributed? What the players complain about is the fact that the governing bodies are not giving back a high percentage of the money they make,\u201d Mouratoglou said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He also highlighted the challenges faced by lower-ranked players trying to sustain professional careers. \u201cThe problem that I see also is that most of the money the governing bodies are giving back is going to a very, very small proportion of players. It\u2019s not normal that in a sport like tennis, a guy who\u2019s ranked 150 in the world cannot make a living. This is completely a scandal,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Opelka\u2019s opinion carries additional significance given his involvement in the Professional Tennis Players Association\u2019s ongoing legal battle against the tennis governing bodies. The American is among the co-plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed in 2025 against the ATP, WTA, ITF, and ITIA, alleging restrictions on player earnings and other anti-competitive practices.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Earlier this year, Opelka testified in a Manhattan federal court that ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi had indirectly warned him about possible financial consequences if he refused to withdraw from the case. According to reports, Opelka claimed he was told he could lose pension benefits and face major legal costs. The ATP denied those allegations, though the court allowed the testimony to remain on record.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Opelka\u2019s opinion carries additional significance given his involvement in the Professional Tennis Players Association\u2019s ongoing legal battle against the tennis governing bodies. The American is among the co-plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed in 2025 against the ATP, WTA, ITF, and ITIA, alleging restrictions on player earnings and other anti-competitive practices.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The issue of prize-money distribution has increasingly become a major talking point across the tour, with several leading players, including Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff, weighing in over the past week as attention now shifts toward upcoming announcements about the Wimbledon Championships prize money.<\/p>\r\n\r\n