How do low level pros make a living??

HunterST · 12-13-2009, 10:55 AM

I was looking at some of the lower ranked pro's profiles on the ATP website, guys that are in the lower end of the top 1000. The site tells their prize money from each tournament and most of them are tiny amounts like 500 dollars. I can't imagine that racquet or clothing companies are paying these guys huge amounts of money since they're virtually unknown. How do they live off of this terrible pay?

LafayetteHitter · 12-13-2009, 10:57 AM

The majority of them most likely have family money in play to keep them on tour.

HunterST · 12-13-2009, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LafayetteHitter

The majority of them most likely have family money in play to keep them on tour.

Yeah that sounds probable. That would suck to be the 700th best tennis player in the world and not even make enough money to finance your career. The 700th best basketball player in the world is probably a multi-millionaire.

CCNM · 12-13-2009, 11:42 AM

I was reading a sports magazine not too long ago and they were interviewing a female player (I think it was Jill Craybas) about what life was like for a lower-ranked person on the tour. She said that when she plays in Australia she stays with a family that she's known since she was a junior player,

TennezSport · 12-13-2009, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CCNM

She said that when she plays in Australia she stays with a family that she's known since she was a junior player,

Yeah, there are a multitude of "Tennis Host Housing" in a network that a lot of players use when they are coming up the ranks (or going down). They are usually tennis families or enthusiasts that have a spare room or two that will give free board and food for tickets or small favors. It costs about $45,000.00 per year to stay on tour if you are frugal with your money, so players tend to use whatever money saving tactics that they can find to stay alive.

Cheers, TennezSport

nCode2010 · 12-13-2009, 12:25 PM

It's obscene how much money is concentrated in the top 50.

clayman2000 · 12-13-2009, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nCode2010

It's obscene how much money is concentrated in the top 50.

Its also obscene in the difference of skill between the top 5 and top 50

Heck theres a huge difference between the top 5 and the top 20.

Max G. · 12-13-2009, 12:55 PM

The ones in that range don't make a living playing pro tennis. They have to have other sources of income.

nCode2010 · 12-13-2009, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clayman2000

Its also obscene in the difference of skill between the top 5 and top 50

Heck theres a huge difference between the top 5 and the top 20.

Davydenko says hello from the #6 spot.

clayman2000 · 12-13-2009, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nCode2010

Davydenko says hello from the #6 spot.

Fine top 7

HunterST · 12-13-2009, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max G.

The ones in that range don't make a living playing pro tennis. They have to have other sources of income.

Yes, the question the thread is asking is what are the other sources? Maybe being a teaching pro?

raygo · 12-13-2009, 03:28 PM

They may also have domestic sponsorships. The top Japanese pros are outside the ATP Top 100, but the national circuit has a big following here. The local divisions of bigger companies (Nike, Babolat and affiliates, etc) get good exposure sponsoring local players, even if they don't do all that well on the international tour--in fact, that may be a reason they aren't hungrier. The population here is more likely to buy what the local heroes are wearing rather than the apparel of some higher ranked Eastern European player whose name they can't pronounce.

nfor304 · 12-13-2009, 03:38 PM

Most of the players ranked that low are either young players just starting out and have sponsors and dont expect to stay that low for long, or they are older players who supplement their income playing money tournaments or coaching or just being part time players while holding a regular job and hoping to make a breakthrough

IvanAndreevich · 12-13-2009, 05:39 PM

We have players in the Top 1000 here on the forum. Maybe they can chime in.

malakas · 12-13-2009, 05:42 PM

Most of them are broke,have other financial sources,are supported by family or take up other jobs as well like tennis coach.For most of these guys tennis is a passion most of all and though they don't have much success in the pro tour they still try and take part in tournies.

BUT don't think that in the top100 there are all millionaires.They still fly in economical flights,try to save money any way possible.

ttbrowne · 12-13-2009, 05:50 PM

Got a buddy in the top 400. He's made a big move from 700's to 400's just this past year...first full year pro. He does not have a racket contract but he has some sponsors from local people he knew while he was in college. I don't believe he teaches, he's on the road most of the time 'cept right now he's visiting his parents. He lives pretty lean and mean but it seems he's enjoying himself. He's been playing, and winning, with $80 rackets. Ha!

IvanAndreevich · 12-13-2009, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ttbrowne

Got a buddy in the top 400. He's made a big move from 700's to 400's just this past year...first full year pro. He does not have a racket contract but he has some sponsors from local people he knew while he was in college. I don't believe he teaches, he's on the road most of the time 'cept right now he's visiting his parents. He lives pretty lean and mean but it seems he's enjoying himself. He's been playing, and winning, with $80 rackets. Ha!

That sounds like what I gather from various accounts too. Good life if you love tennis, but not really a way to get rich or get set for the future.

edmondsm · 12-13-2009, 09:56 PM

Once your ranking isn't high enough to qualify for tour level events money gets tight. You are probably making a middle class wage at best. Sure you might be able to enter the qualies for a tour level tourney, but what was your flight cost, hotel cost, rental car, etc? Point being, these "lower level" players are subtracting their expenses (in the thousands) from their prize money (which may or may not be in the thousands).

ManuGinobili · 12-13-2009, 09:59 PM

If you think about it, if you're trying to play alot of tourneys you wont have time to teach at tennis clubs - not very significant income.
Head and Wilson do have pretty wide networks of local sponsorship, but thats only for equipments (not even balls I think).
So overall, lower level tennis pros are probably the poorest among the major sports...

edmondsm · 12-13-2009, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManuGinobili

If you think about it, if you're trying to play alot of tourneys you wont have time to teach at tennis clubs - not very significant income.
Head and Wilson do have pretty wide networks of local sponsorship, but thats only for equipments (not even balls I think).
So overall, lower level tennis pros are probably the poorest among the major sports...

It all depends on where you live. Europeans have a much easier time getting tourneys in when they are lower ranked as there is always an event going on and it's just a matter of taking a long train ride usually.

Take Bobby Reynolds. US player, ranked #333. Three of his countable tournaments were first round exits and the AO, FO, and Wimby. Two others were first round exits at IW and Miami. The French player ranked just above Bobby Reynolds, Benoit Paire, didn't play a single tour level match in 2009. Unless you count losing in the 1st round of the FO qualies. 15 of the 18 tournaments that counted toward his record were futures tourneys.

Bobby Reynolds didn't even play a futures event in 2009.

12-13-2009, 10:55 AM	#1
HunterST Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,707	How do low level pros make a living?? I was looking at some of the lower ranked pro's profiles on the ATP website, guys that are in the lower end of the top 1000. The site tells their prize money from each tournament and most of them are tiny amounts like 500 dollars. I can't imagine that racquet or clothing companies are paying these guys huge amounts of money since they're virtually unknown. How do they live off of this terrible pay?

12-13-2009, 11:42 AM	#4
CCNM Hall Of Fame Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Albuquerque, NM USA Posts: 2,781	I was reading a sports magazine not too long ago and they were interviewing a female player (I think it was Jill Craybas) about what life was like for a lower-ranked person on the tour. She said that when she plays in Australia she stays with a family that she's known since she was a junior player, __________________ Favorites: S Kuznetsova, M Baghdadis. J Jankovic, Henin, Gonzo, Federer, Nadal, A Sanchez-Vicario, Boris Becker, G Sabatini, A Mauresmo

12-13-2009, 03:28 PM	#12
raygo Semi-Pro Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Yokohama, Japan Posts: 405	They may also have domestic sponsorships. The top Japanese pros are outside the ATP Top 100, but the national circuit has a big following here. The local divisions of bigger companies (Nike, Babolat and affiliates, etc) get good exposure sponsoring local players, even if they don't do all that well on the international tour--in fact, that may be a reason they aren't hungrier. The population here is more likely to buy what the local heroes are wearing rather than the apparel of some higher ranked Eastern European player whose name they can't pronounce. __________________ I love the Interweb.

12-13-2009, 05:39 PM	#14
IvanAndreevich Legend Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 7,501	We have players in the Top 1000 here on the forum. Maybe they can chime in. __________________ 2 x Yonex RDS 002 Tour @ Topspin Cyber Blue 17 All I post is based on reason and facts. ~ gj011

12-13-2009, 09:56 PM	#18
edmondsm Legend Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: In an in between place. Posts: 6,776	Once your ranking isn't high enough to qualify for tour level events money gets tight. You are probably making a middle class wage at best. Sure you might be able to enter the qualies for a tour level tourney, but what was your flight cost, hotel cost, rental car, etc? Point being, these "lower level" players are subtracting their expenses (in the thousands) from their prize money (which may or may not be in the thousands). __________________ Knock knock. Who's there? Knock knock. Who's there? Knock knock. Who's there? Philip Glass.