'Shock' boyfriend's fall and death → insists on competing → 'Money is tight' fierce criticism after... 'Embarrassed' world No. 1 boycott "We can only pray earnestly..."

*This content was translated by AI.

A long-standing dispute over prize money distribution in tennis is now threatening to swallow even the most prestigious tournament. The controversy over top-ranked players' boycott remarks, led by world No. 1 women's singles player Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, who has accumulated a staggering 36.3 million pounds (approximately 73.3 billion won) in career earnings, is spreading uncontrollably.

On the 7th (Korea time), the British outlet 'Daily Mail' highlighted the situation, stating, "The civil war in tennis is now flowing into Wimbledon," and added, "The All England Club is in a position where it can only earnestly pray that the unprecedented player-led press conference curtailment protests that occurred at the French Open will not be repeated at this tournament."

At the center of this crisis is Sabalenka, who has strongly advocated for the rights of tennis players and the realization of fair prize money. Recently, Sabalenka expressed strong dissatisfaction with the revenue-sharing model of major tournaments and even hinted at the possibility of a full-scale boycott by female players. At that time, Sabalenka raised her voice, saying, "Today, our players can unite and speak out together," and "Players create the show. Without players, there can be no tournaments or entertainment."

The reason top players around the world, including Sabalenka, are furious is that the share of prize money going to players is far too small compared to the massive profits generated by major tournaments. In fact, Sabalenka and world No. 1 men's singles player Jannik Sinner of Italy recently openly expressed their frustration over the fact that only 15% of the total revenue collected by the tournament was allocated as prize money at the French Open, and they protested by forcibly limiting the pre-match press conference time to 15 minutes.

In this context, public opinion criticizing Sabalenka's double-faced nature and public opinion defending her personal history are intertwined, making the controversy even hotter. Sabalenka has frequently been the subject of controversy for her tendency to show raw emotions on the court. She has engaged in impulsive acts such as throwing her racket at ball kids or shouting "Shut up" at booing spectators, and during a high-profile exhibition match against male player Nick Kyrgios, she danced to music, drawing criticism that she focused more on money-making shows than serious competition.

However, Sabalenka did not back down, stating, "Throwing a racket or shouting is a necessary process to empty one's mind and refocus on the match. It may look ugly, but it is an unavoidable act for a player who longs for victory to maintain their mental state."

Her heartbreaking family history also played a significant role. In March 2024, just before the Miami Open, Sabalenka suffered the shocking tragedy of her former boyfriend and former ice hockey player, Konstantin Kolchov, falling to his death. Immediately after receiving the news, Sabalenka was criticized as a heartless player for insisting on competing in the tournament. In a recent interview, she confessed, "There is no right way to cope with grief. For me, the only way to survive was to immediately return to the court and immerse myself in work."

She also shed tears, recalling her father who passed away when she was young, saying, "Even now, I lie in bed watching videos of other players' families and imagine what it would have been like if my father were still alive, and I cry like a madman."

However, the view on Sabalenka's boycott is complex. Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina expressed their support, saying, "If everyone unites, we will join in," while global star Iga Świątek took a cautious stance, stating, "A boycott is somewhat extreme. Communication with the association should come first." Emma Raducanu also drew a line, saying, "Major tournaments have value beyond money. I will not participate."

Jamie Murray, a British tennis hero who has transformed into an administrator after retirement and is currently mediating this crisis, told the 'Daily Mail' in an interview, "It is true that players have long been neglected at major tournaments, but compared to when I debuted in 2006, the prize money and treatment players earn today are on a completely different level."

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*This content was translated by AI.