Aryna Sabalenka Addresses Criticism Over Expensive Jewelry Amid Prize Money Protest
Aryna Sabalenka has addressed claims that she is a hypocrite after being seen wearing £76,000 worth of jewelry during her opening match at the French Open. This came just days after she joined a protest demanding higher prize money for players.
Sabalenka defeated Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4, 6-2 in her first match. During the game, she was seen wearing two necklaces and matching earrings crafted by New York-based designer Material Good. The pieces featured 15.6 carats of diamonds and 136.5 carats of garnets.
The value of the jewelry was £1,000 more than what Bouzas Maneiro earned for her first-round exit. Sabalenka had also worn the same accessories during her pre-tournament press conference, which she cut short after 15 minutes as part of her demands for increased prize money.
As one of 20 top players protesting against the current 15% revenue share at the French Open, Sabalenka is advocating for a 22% share, which would add an additional £25 million to the prize pool. The current prize fund stands at £53 million, with each champion receiving £2.4 million.
In 2025, Sabalenka earned over £11 million in prize money, the highest amount ever recorded for a women’s player, surpassing Serena Williams’ previous record of £9.2 million from 2013.
Clarifying the Purpose of Her Actions
Sabalenka clarified that her actions were not about personal gain. “I don’t really see how it can be possible to cross these two completely different worlds,” she said. “As I said before, the prize money, it’s not about me at all. It’s just fighting for players, lower-ranked players who are really struggling to survive in this tennis world.”
She emphasized that her efforts were aimed at ensuring fair representation for all players. “It has nothing to do with me that I’m fighting for the prize money. Everyone knows that I’m okay. It’s just that we are fighting for fair percentage out of the revenues, and also for the lower-ranked players, players coming back after injuries, next generation to be more comfortable coming into the top 10. It’s not about me.”
Potential for Even More Expensive Accessories
According to Daily Mail Sport, Sabalenka’s custom jewelry at Roland Garros could cost over £100,000 if she chooses to wear a third necklace in the set, valued at £34,000. However, she admitted after her victory that adding another piece would have been “too much.”
Sabalenka also revealed that her fiancé, Georgios Frangulis, is responsible for keeping the jewels safe. “He’s kind of like my security,” she said with a smile. “I have my team. I have Jason (Stacy, her performance coach) and my physio who does Jujitsu, so I feel pretty secure walking around. If I go somewhere, I don’t go alone.”
Continued Collaboration with Material Good
Sabalenka is the face of the New York brand Material Good and has worn their jewelry at the Australian Open in January. She plans to continue using their designs in all Grand Slams this year.
Wimbledon sources have given the green light for Sabalenka to wear her bling on the grass courts at the All England Club in June. This move shows the continued support for her fashion choices within the tennis community.
Injuries Impact British Players
Meanwhile, British number one Cameron Norrie was forced to retire from the French Open for only the second time in his professional career. He crashed out in the first round, raising concerns about his chances at Wimbledon.
Norrie had admitted he was nursing a rib injury heading into the tournament and was only able to practice for two days before his opener against Daniel Vallejo. He lost the first set on Court 13 after squandering four set points in a tie-break. After consulting with his team and the doctor, he retired at 2-0 down in the second set.
This marks the second time Norrie has retired from a match, with his last retirement occurring in a Futures Tour match in 2014. He joins a growing list of British players affected by injuries, including Jack Draper and Sonay Kartal, who are already absent from the tournament. Emma Raducanu also suffered an early exit on the same court as Norrie, having played only one other match since March.
