Reigning US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from a group of top tennis stars demanding a larger proportion of prize money from the four grand slam tournaments.

The Spaniard, who will take on US star Ben Shelton in a quarter-final match-up this evening, was initially part of a group which chose to take on some of the sport’s biggest chiefs – the executives of the US, French and Australian Opens, as well as Wimbledon – demanding a greater share of prize money relative to grand slam revenue.

But the World No3 has broken rank, those with knowledge of the matter have confirmed to , in what many will see as a major body blow to the rebel plans.

The 20 best players in the world – the top 10 men and top 10 women – have been fighting with tennis chiefs for 18 months, and have set a target of the prize pot at any one of the four grand slams being equivalent to 22 per cent of the tournament’s revenue, to be achieved by the end of the decade.

US Open prize money

The French Open saw players protest against prize money by slashing their media obligations, while there were grumbles about the total purse offered at Wimbledon despite a major hike to upwards of £64m.

It comes as the men’s game’s governing body, the ATP, earlier this year announced a reduction in appearance obligations for players, while the women’s WTA is looking at a similar move that could change the calendar and reduce body stress for players.

“I think they [tennis bosses] are adding more important tournaments,” seven-time grand slam champion Alcaraz said in a press conference this week after beating Tommy Paul. “You know, in a way they are making us play.

“But there are some Masters 1000s, some grand-slams, and we’ll be playing 40 weeks if we have got to play every mandatory tournament that the ATP requires us to, so it’s impossible, and we are seeing a lot of players getting injured, a lot of players getting tired.

“I’m going to miss some tournaments in the future, for sure.”