Money, money, (prize) money......

Torres

Banned
Top players increase pressure on ‘majors’ to raise prize money

Neil Harman Tennis Correspondent, Key Biscayne, Florida
Published 1 minute ago

In a move that could have far-reaching consequences for the future pay of the world’s leading professionals, the grand-slam tournaments have met the four top-ranked players in the men’s game to discuss the revenue share at future championships, The Times has learnt. Roger Federer, the president of the ATP player council, along with Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, talked to representatives of the “majors” in an attempt to avert the prospect of a boycott of one of the leading events, which has become a much-discussed player tactic. The French Open delegation has become increasingly anxious that any revolt will affect its field in May.

Alarmed at the levels of acrimony among the men, who are pressing for a greater share of the revenue of the grand-slam events — about 12 to 15 per cent — each of the four sent emissaries to Indian Wells, California, last week to try to reach a resolution. They were: Philip Brook, the chairman of the All England Club, in the company of Tim Henman, who is a member of the management committee; Gilbert Ysern, the French Open tournament director, with Guy Forget, who has taken over as tournament director of the Paris Masters; Gordon Smith, the USTA executive director; and Steve Wood, the chief executive of Tennis Australia, with Craig Tiley, the Australian Open tournament director.

About 60 ATP players met at the tournament site at the Sony Ericsson Open on Wednesday night and although they left frustrated at being given no information, they at least know their voices are being channelled through the quartet who have taken the men’s game to a new plane. “I believe it’s a winner’s tour, so the money is there for everyone to play for, but at the same time we wish that the lower rounds would also get a bigger raise,” Federer said recently. “Obviously, it’s an important task for the council and the board to make sure all the lower rounds get more in the future.”

The pressure on the grand-slam tournaments to enhance their prize- money levels increased last week when the BNP Paribas Open, in Indian Wells, bankrolled by Larry Ellison, the billionaire, raised its prize money and paid its champions, Federer and Victoria Azarenka, $1 million each (about £632,000 before tax). There have also been substantial round-by-round increases in recent years.

As an example, in the past ten years Indian Wells has improved the money it pays its champions by 137.2 per cent and those who lose in the first round have received an 86.7 per cent increase in the same time-frame. The Australian Open has undergone a 103.9 per cent increase for the champions and those in the first round have seen their remuneration go up 23.1 per cent. It is figures such as these that make the grand-slam events vulnerable.

In a recent study in USA Today, it was revealed that in the 20 years since the inception of the ATP Tour, the wealth disparity between players ranked in the top 100 has never been greater. Djokovic, Nadal and Federer, who have largely shared the top three ranking spots since 2007, have banked a greater proportion of prize money than any previous trio, taking between 20 per cent and 26 per cent of available prize money for the past five years. Any deal that is done with the men will affect the women, who receive equal prize money at the four grand-slam tournaments.

Levels of attainment

£14.6m The amount Wimbledon paid in prize money in 2011. It is estimated that the tournament brings in £120 million

£1.1m The amount the men’s and women’s singles winners received in 2011

$80.1m Total ATP Tour prize money in 2011, up from $33.8 million in 1990

$7,709 The amount first-round losers picked up at Indian Wells this year, an increase of 8 per cent. The winner’s cheque was $1 million, up 64 per cent

€1.2m The amount the French Open paid its champions in 2011, compared with €15,000 for first-round losers.
 

tistrapukcipeht

Professional
I think the players should get paid more no matter where they play.

Tournaments make a lot of money, since they pretty much pay nobody to work, they have volunteers to work and get the tournaments rolling so they can rack up some cash.

I think 2.5-3 million USD for ATP slam winner would be good and 1 million for WTA slam winner, I don't think women deserve even half of what men make.
 

Bender

G.O.A.T.
They should pay the earlier exits more (which generally means lower seeds). Winners and such I think don't need much of a raise, since it's more about glory than money at that point, IMO.
 

surfvland

Semi-Pro
There should also be larger purses for futures and challengers. The current purses for these lower lever tourny's are pathetic.
 

BigForehand

Semi-Pro
u all don't take into account the debt the tournaments have to pay. There are investors who put money to build the facilities and also utility costs: wages for workers isn't much, but everything else is
 

Bjorn99

Hall of Fame
Tennis is not popular any more. Its too accessible I guess on tv and the internet. The stands are completely empty. And there is no whiny ugly kid from New York playing left handed screaming at anyone he feels like, and looking over the net at a beautiful robotic Swede.

And the clothing on some of these players is hideous. Andy Murray looks like a Domino's deluxe pizza out there most of the time.
 

joeri888

G.O.A.T.
Tennis is not popular any more. Its too accessible I guess on tv and the internet. The stands are completely empty. And there is no whiny ugly kid from New York playing left handed screaming at anyone he feels like, and looking over the net at a beautiful robotic Swede.

And the clothing on some of these players is hideous. Andy Murray looks like a Domino's deluxe pizza out there most of the time.

Stands are empty? Maybe in the US, but certainly not here. Rotterdam was packed all week, setting an attendancy record of around 120.000 (maximum capacity for the week is 130.000).
 

batz

G.O.A.T.
Tennis is not popular any more. Its too accessible I guess on tv and the internet. The stands are completely empty. And there is no whiny ugly kid from New York playing left handed screaming at anyone he feels like, and looking over the net at a beautiful robotic Swede.

And the clothing on some of these players is hideous. Andy Murray looks like a Domino's deluxe pizza out there most of the time.

That must explain why tickets for wimbledon and Queen's are so easy to come by. And those quarter of a million people who turn up to watch the WTF - did I imagine them?
 

joeri888

G.O.A.T.
That must explain why tickets for wimbledon and Queen's are so easy to come by. And those quarter of a million people who turn up to watch the WTF - did I imagine them?

American centered ******** I assume?

Tennis is more popular than ever here in europe.

Anyway, prize money goign up is a good thing, as long as it's mostly up for the 1st and 2nd rounders. Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray don't need to make more money than they do. I think theyre good.
 

Bjorn99

Hall of Fame
I see a lot of empty stands. But I admit I don't research it all that much. I love tennis more than most.
 

SLD76

G.O.A.T.
There should also be larger purses for futures and challengers. The current purses for these lower lever tourny's are pathetic.

ok, but they can only pay out so much relevant to what they generate.

I agree with those who say that the majors can certainly afford to reward more money for the earlier rounds for the journeyman and qualifiers who work hard to make it to the 1st 2nd or 3rd rounds.

Frankly, the top stars are making good enough money as it is, they dont need 5m paychecks.

That said, the article says the USO generated 120mil..but what is their overhead I wonder?
 

joeri888

G.O.A.T.
ok, but they can only pay out so much relevant to what they generate.I agree with those who say that the majors can certainly afford to reward more money for the earlier rounds for the journeyman and qualifiers who work hard to make it to the 1st 2nd or 3rd rounds.

Frankly, the top stars are making good enough money as it is, they dont need 5m paychecks.

That said, the article says the USO generated 120mil..but what is their overhead I wonder?

Not true, the ATP has a big say in the prize money I think. I would suggest that the ATP puts some extra money in those challengers.
 

forthegame

Hall of Fame
As long as they increase the purse for the earlier rounds, I'm happy.

Shame that you could be top 200 in the world at something and not have that much to show for it.

I would be even happier if they forgo some of the champions' increase and bump up the earlier rounds prizes. Indian Wells could have seen a 32% increase in the champions purse with the other 32% going to the earlier rounds. It can only be good for the game IMHO.

Glad the players are united on this front.
 

batz

G.O.A.T.
As long as they increase the purse for the earlier rounds, I'm happy.Shame that you could be top 200 in the world at something and not have that much to show for it.



I would be even happier if they forgo some of the champions' increase and bump up the earlier rounds prizes. Indian Wells could have seen a 32% increase in the champions purse with the other 32% going to the earlier rounds. It can only be good for the game IMHO.

Glad the players are united on this front.


+1 I'm willing to stand corrected, but I'm pretty sure that in 2011, more Real Madrid players earned > $1million than ATP tour players.
 

citybert

Hall of Fame
What is the revenue share between players and tournaments. Average since I know every tourney differs. Is this public knowledge?

If it is not near 50/50 like the other sports the players should consider a strike. which they obviously already have. NFL and NBA have had a lockout over a few percentage points since owners were not happy. This seems to be the other way around
 

cork_screw

Hall of Fame
Yeah, the numbers look like they just pocket the difference that doesn't go directly to the players, but you really need to let other people know where that extra money goes to. It doesn't go to a small group of people who after the tournament all buy Aston Martins. When you divide up the money and where it all goes, the money does rightfully get distributed correctly.

Top players increase pressure on ‘majors’ to raise prize money

Neil Harman Tennis Correspondent, Key Biscayne, Florida
Published 1 minute ago

Levels of attainment

£14.6m The amount Wimbledon paid in prize money in 2011. It is estimated that the tournament brings in £120 million

£1.1m The amount the men’s and women’s singles winners received in 2011

$80.1m Total ATP Tour prize money in 2011, up from $33.8 million in 1990

$7,709 The amount first-round losers picked up at Indian Wells this year, an increase of 8 per cent. The winner’s cheque was $1 million, up 64 per cent

€1.2m The amount the French Open paid its champions in 2011, compared with €15,000 for first-round losers.
 
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