Sawt Falasteen - Keys says players will strike over Grand Slam pay if 'necessary'

Last year almost all the leading players signed two letters to the four Grand Slam bosses demanding an increase in prize money, payments into a player welfare fund to improve retirement and maternity benefits, as well as involvement in decisions that affected them.

The letters set a target of a 22-percent share in tournament revenue, which would bring the majors in line with the nine combined 1000-level events run by the ATP men's tour and the women's WTA tour.

However, some players feel their demands are not being taken into serious consideration.

"I think it's incredibly important that the players have more of a voice when it comes to the big decisions that are being made," world number 19 Keys told AFP in Paris, where she is warming up for Roland Garros by playing in the WTA 125 Trophee Clarins event.

"And I think that it has been many, many years where players have tried to come to the table and have the discussion and it hasn't really gotten anywhere."

The American added that seeing "so many players... unified" on the matter was "very inspiring".

This strength of feeling has lead to talk of a potential boycott of a Grand Slam tournament.

"We have kind of come together and agreed that if that's what's necessary, then we'll do it," Keys said.

"Hopefully it would never get to that point, but I think it's great to see how many, especially so many of the younger players are so willing to stand up for all players."

- 'Many are willing' -

The 31-year-old is the latest top player to address the matter, after men's world number one Jannik Sinner last week called for Grand Slam tournaments to show tennis players "respect".

Two days prior to Sinner's comments, women's top-ranked player Aryna Sabalenka said that she was ready to boycott the Grand Slams in order for the players to force organisers' hands.

Those comments came after players said in a statement that last month's announcement by the French Open of a 9.5-percent prize money rise was not good enough.

It said that a 14-percent increase in revenue last year only led to the total prize purse going up by 5.4 percent, reducing the players' share to 14.3 percent.

Former world number five Keys said if there was a movement to boycott upcoming majors this year, such as Roland Garros, which starts on May 24, or Wimbledon, then she would heed the call.

"I think it's one of those things where it's just something that you talk about until it actually happens. So I'm as prepared (to boycott) as I need to be," she said.

"It's something that it seems as though many players are willing to do. So again, hopefully it doesn't actually get to that point, but to see so many people that are willing to get to that point for all players, I think is inspiring."

Q.Najjar--SF-PST