Tennis grand slam tournaments have agreed to create a formal player advisory council. The move aims to ease a long dispute over prize money and give players a stronger voice in major events. The four grand slams have faced pressure from top players for almost 18 months. Players want a larger share of tournament income and more say in key decisions. The plan could be confirmed as the United States Tennis Association announces the prize money for this year’s US Open. The total fund is expected to pass $100 million for the first time. Top players have pushed for major changes in how tennis shares its income. Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka are among the players who have called for a larger share of grand slam revenue. Players also want the major tournaments to support player welfare. They have asked for a clear role in decisions that affect the sport and their work. Talks have made slow progress. In May, several leading players took direct action during the French Open. Top 10 men’s and women’s players withdrew from some planned media duties. The move was part of growing pressure on the grand slam events. Players later planned similar action at Wimbledon, but they cancelled it after talks led to an agreement on higher prize money. The main issue remains the share of tournament income paid to players. The players want the grand slams to follow the ATP and WTA model. The tours allocate about 22% of their revenue to prize money. Wimbledon offered £64.2 million in prize money this year. That amount was about 14.4% of the total revenue from the championships. The players believe the gap should be reduced. They also want a formal system that gives them a role in major financial and business decisions. The new advisory council could help address that concern. However, players want more details before they support the plan. One person involved in the talks said player control would be important. Players want to decide who represents them and how those representatives are chosen. They also want clear rules on how much influence the council will have. The ATP and WTA already have player councils with elected members and fixed terms. The US Open now faces the next major test in the dispute. The tournament begins on 30 August in New York. The US Open has often offered the largest prize fund in tennis. Last year, the tournament paid $90 million in prize money. There is strong expectation that this year's fund will rise above $100 million. The final amount could play a major role in the next stage of talks between players and the grand slams. Players have not ruled out further action if they are unhappy with the increase. A media boycott at the US Open remains possible. Players are also watching the new mixed doubles event at the US Open. The event is part of an effort by the USTA to increase revenue and expand the tournament schedule. Some players had threatened to skip the mixed doubles event. The competition takes place before the main US Open tournament. Men’s world No 1 Jannik Sinner was not included in the main draw announced on Tuesday. Aryna Sabalenka, the women’s world No 1, will play in the event with Novak Djokovic. Sinner played mixed doubles at the US Open last year with Katerina Siniakova. He later withdrew after becoming ill following the Cincinnati Open. The new player council could now offer a path toward better talks between the Grand Slams and players. Its success will depend on how much power players receive and how their representatives are chosen. The dispute over prize money is not over. However, the planned council marks a possible step toward giving players a formal place in decisions about the future of the sport.