‘As world No 1, I have to stand up and fight’: Sabalenka leads players in grand slam protest

• Year-long dispute led to French Open media protest

• Novak Djokovic chose not to participate in walkout

Aryna Sabalenka insisted the player push for a greater financial contribution from the grand slams is primarily focused on improving the welfare of lower-ranked players as the world’s elite advanced with their eve-of-tournament protest at Roland Garros.

“I feel like the whole point here, it’s not about me,” Sabalenka said. “It’s about the players who are lower in the ranking, who are suffering. It’s not easy to live in this tennis world with that percentage that we are earning.