There are 3 different circuits for professional tennis players. The best known of all is theATP Tour : this is the main circuit of men’s tennis, where the best players compete. It includes 4 different types of tournaments (+ the ATP Finals). THE cash prizes are very interesting. Today they are close to 100 000 $ for a ATP 250THE 350 000 $ for a ATP 500THE 1 000 000 $ for a Masters 1000 and the 2 500 000 $ for a Grand Slam. Huge amounts, far from the expected gains in the lower echelons.
The secondary circuit is l’ATP Challenger Tour. It represents the last step before joining the world tennis elite. It is reserved for tennis players located a little further down the rankings: the Top 10 cannot register, and players between 10th and 50th in the world at ATP can join some only by invitation. and if the tournament offers a prize pool of at least $50,000 (except ATP Challenger 175). This intermediate division allows good tennis players who are unable to perform (or even participate) in ATP Tour tournaments to still win tournaments and money to make a good living from tennis. It is the main place of evolution for tennis players located around the 250th place in the world. It is also common to find tennis players close to the Top 100 in search of points to approach the “world’s top”.
The winner of a Challenger usually walks away with a check ranging from 15 000 has 25 000 $. The ATP Challengers 175 are the new ultra-competitive tournaments created by the ATP. They are almost of a level equivalent to an ATP 250. The key: even more cash prizes and points to recover. A step forward for the Challenger circuit!
The last circuit is theITF Men’s World Tennis Tour. This category of tournaments called “Futures tournaments” represents the lowest level of professional tennis. It is difficult for players to earn money. They are barely covering their expenses. The prize money for the winner of one of these tournaments varies between 2000 et 4000 $, which is very little when you know that a tennis player playing on this circuit has a lot of expenses (which are not covered): transport, accommodation, equipment, trainer, physiotherapist, etc.
How much does a tennis player earn?
A tennis player, depending on whether he plays on the main, secondary or tertiary circuit, will therefore have totally different incomes. When some struggle to earn a minimum wage, others live on another planet. Rafael Nadal (see his salary ici), Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have cash flow beyond belief, with tournament earnings exceeding 130 000 000 $.
Most members of the Top 100 have well exceeded one million euros in career earnings (excluding very young people). Every year, it’s millions and millions of dollars of cash prizes that the members of the Top 100 share during the various tournaments, leaving little room for the others.
Still behind, between 100th and 200th place at the ATP, the players continue to earn a good living. On average, they have earnings ranging from 50 000 over 300 000 € per year depending on their results.
Passed the 300th place in the world, it becomes difficult to earn money. Tennis players travel the Future circuits and have minimal earnings, sometimes not much greater than the personal expenses spent by the player (which can amount to €30 or €40,000 per season).
You should know that the ATP is going to develop a financial insurance system for the world’s top 250 players. It will be effective from 2024. The ATP will therefore supplement the income of Top 100 players up to $300,000. $150,000 will be paid out to players ranked between 101st and 175th place. And finally $75,000 for those ranked between 176th and 250th place. This system will especially allow tennis players located beyond the Top 200 to approach the season with more serenity. And this will be an additional motivation for those located in the 300th and 400th places.
Professional tennis salary:
(Estimates averaged by ranking)
Annual : 1 000 000 € (Top 100) / 150 000 € (Top 100-200) / 25 000 € (ITF circuit) Monthly : 83 333 € / 12 500 € / 2 083 €Weekly: 19 180 € / 2876 € / 476 €Daily: 2 740 € / 410 € / 68 €
2023-08-24 20:38:01
#salary #professional #tennis #player
