World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has become the center of attention at the ongoing French Open, but not only because of her performances on court. The Belarusian star is facing criticism after wearing a luxury necklace reportedly worth $114,000 during her opening-round match in Paris. The controversy comes at a time when Sabalenka and several top players are demanding higher prize money from Grand Slam tournaments.
Player Earnings Debate Intensifies
The debate around player earnings has intensified in recent weeks. Although Roland Garros increased its overall prize pool by 10%, players believe the share they receive from the tournament’s total revenue remains too low. Sabalenka, along with stars like Jannik Sinner and Coco Gauff, has openly supported calls for better financial distribution. The issue became even bigger after leading players decided to reduce their media duties during the tournament as part of their protest.
Sabalenka Defends Herself After Criticism Over Luxury Jewelry
Aryna Sabalenka’s expensive necklace became a talking point after her dominant 6-4, 6-2 win over Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the first round. Critics on social media questioned whether wearing such costly jewelry weakens her argument about players not earning enough money at Grand Slam events. Some fans even accused the World No. 1 of being hypocritical during a time when she is pushing for higher prize money.
However, Sabalenka strongly rejected those claims. The Belarusian explained that the fight for better prize money is not focused on top-ranked stars like herself, but on lower-ranked players who struggle financially on the professional tour. She stressed that many players outside the elite group find it difficult to cover travel, coaching, and training expenses throughout the season.
Sabalenka said the chat should not be about her personal wealth or luxury items. Instead the focus must stay on improving financial conditions for players who do not earn millions from sponsorships and endorsements. According to her, the current system leaves many professional players with limited support, despite them competing at the highest level.
The 28-year-old is currently among the highest-paid female athletes in the world, with estimated yearly earnings of around $30 million. Because of that, many supporters feel her necklace should not distract from the larger issue surrounding revenue sharing in tennis.
The ongoing debate has once again highlighted the growing tension between players and Grand Slam organizers. While tournaments continue to generate huge revenue, many players believe a fairer percentage should be distributed among competitors across all ranking levels.
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