Federer joins calls for greater Slam prize money

MELBOURNE: Roger Federer says it’s time for his fellow professional players to rally and seek greater prize money from the four tennis Grand Slam tournaments.

The 19-time major winner says the current agreement is a good one, but it has run its course and time was right for players to get together and seek pay increases.Novak Djokovic, as president of the ATP player council, said this week at the Australian Open in Melbourne that “everybody’s trying to do their best” when asked about players getting a bigger slice of the Grand Slam cash pool.

Federer, who has amassed almost $112 million in career prizemoney, supported Djokovic’s push for a bigger percentage of revenue for players.“We had a good agreement, in my opinion, that made the Grand Slams happy, the players pretty happy. Seems like that has run its course,” he said after his second round match late Thursday.

“The moment that happens, there’s not the same increases any more, so players have to rally, get back together again, put in the effort.“The Grand Slams know that. They will only react when we do so. We’re ready to do it.”