Carlos Alcaraz has returned to the US Open looking like a contender again, but away from the court his position inside one of tennis’ biggest player movements has changed significantly.
According to The Times, Alcaraz’s long-time representative Albert Molina informed the group behind the Grand Slam revenue campaign shortly before the US Open that the Spaniard would no longer take part.
The campaign had brought together several of the sport’s biggest names, including Aryna Sabalenka, Jannik Sinner and Coco Gauff, in an effort to secure a greater percentage of Grand Slam revenue, improved player welfare and more influence over decisions affecting the tour.
Alcaraz had previously supported that push. Now, after missing almost five months with a wrist injury, his strongest public comments are centered on something else entirely, being how much tennis players are being asked to play.
“In the future, I’m going to take some breaks, some long breaks,” Alcaraz said. “Maybe not four months, but one month, two months, missing some tournaments, because it’s impossible to play them all.”
Revenue fight continuing without Alcaraz
The player campaign began in March 2025 and sought to increase the athletes’ share of Grand Slam revenue to 22% by 2030. Frustration became increasingly public during the 2026 season. Sinner said the dispute was about more than prize money.
“It’s more about respect, you know?” he said. “Because I think we give much more than what we are getting back.”
Players also reduced their pre-tournament media commitments at the French Open in a symbolic action linked to the percentage of Grand Slam revenue they believed they were receiving.
Some concessions have followed. Wimbledon increased its prize fund to £64.2 million, while the US Open raised total player compensation by 20% to $108 million and added a $2 million Player Support Program.
The four majors also agreed to establish a Grand Slam Player Council. Alcaraz’s reported departure doesn’t establish that he opposes those goals.
It does, however, remove one of the sport’s most influential players from a campaign that had relied heavily on the image of unity among its biggest stars.
Alcaraz’s comeback changed the conversation
His immediate focus is understandable after a wrist injury forced him to miss both Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
There were legitimate questions over what level Alcaraz could produce after four and a half months away, but his US Open return has quickly answered many of them.
He reached the quarterfinals after beating Roman Safiullin, Jaime Faria, Wu Yibing and Tommy Paul, with Paul admitting the gap between them felt substantial.
“It felt like he’s playing at a completely different level than me,” Paul said.
Alcaraz has also sounded increasingly confident.
“So it probably doesn’t matter that I was out for four months and a half,” he said. “Every time that I come here, I play my best.”
That comeback may also have reinforced a lesson from the months he lost. Alcaraz is still competing for the biggest trophies, but he is no longer pretending he can play everything.
While Sabalenka, Sinner and others continue pushing the Grand Slams over revenue, Alcaraz appears ready to fight a different battle to protect enough of his calendar to protect his body.
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