TENNIS REVOLT: Big players write to four Grand Slams for more prize money

The difference between those who make big money in tennis and the rest who languish all their lives trying to make both ends meet is not a new one. Indeed, common perception is, players from Europe and the United States of America have greater opportunity to travel for more tournaments, starting from the lowest level of Challengers. However, that is not the stage from where money comes in sufficiently enough to match all expenses.

Indian tennis, for example, has seen generations suffer without a proper structure and even the most talented players have struggled to keep their careers afloat. How many would know, in the good old days, Ramanathan Krishnan would leave the Indian shores by ship for almost three months to compete in the clay season peaking in Paris and then the grass court season climaxing at Wimbledon. It was much later the Senior Krishnan was blessed to be sponsored flights from certain princely families in Mysuru. It was not one direct flight, but a minimum of three hop-overs in the Dakota aircrafts in the 60s.

Today, travel by ship is unheard of and flights are the only mode of transport, unless it involves road travel in Europe. Against such a backdrop, those still competing in the men’s and women’s tennis tours under the ATP and WTA have done well to rally around and form the PTPA --professional tennis players association, headed by Novak Djokovic. This includes both men’s and women’s tennis. For those who thought this is just something fancy or on paper, work has begun wherein players have written to the four Majors to cough up a bigger share of the money earned.

The four Grand Slams in Melbourne, Paris, Wimbledon and New York make huge profits and what they give to the players as prize money is a small part. On paper, it may look the prize money is being hiked annually, but what The Championships rakes in at Wimbledon is massive. French newspaper L’Equippe was the first to report a day back, the top 20 players, men and women, have written to the four Grand Slams seeking more money. Revenues generated by the four Majors is well-known and out in public domain. Emma Navarro, the World No. 11 has cited ‘unfair pay ratios” and agreed to be part of the letter fired to the four Grand Slam organisers. The 23-year-old American has been in touch with other players and then decided on this step. "I think it's a good cause to come together as players and make sure we're getting treated fairly,” she said.

For those who think players getting together is something like a publicity stunt, no, they wish to do something more than token. Whether anything comes out of it or not is secondary, for the process to be set in motion needs to be appreciated. On Thursday, Wimbledon, easily the mother of all Grand Slams and one which has massive emotional value mentioned in detail how they want to reshape the Hill at Wimbledon. It was first called “Henman Hill,” named after their famous star Time Henman. From there, it became Murray Mound and so on. The All England Lawn Tennis Club said the project it is undertaking to make ‘The Hill’ viewing experiencing more famous is from a fans’ perspective, from 2027. Nobody can disagree with that, since fans are accorded importance at Wimbledon. Funds which will be pumped into will be massive, since Wimbledon ploughs back its profits.

Last year, the total prize money at The Championships was British Pound Sterling 50 million, which is double the amount offered in 2014. For the first-round losers at Wimbledon, the prize money went up from 27,000 Pounds to 60,000 Pounds. If that is seen is a big increase, factor the rising costs of travel, stay, hiring coaches and investing in their health and physios/trainers. Unless a player has financial support to cover the cost, prize money alone is just peanuts.

Today, the players think it is high time the Majors cough up more money from the piles they are making. Wimbledon had an operating profit of Pounds 54 million in the year 2023. If details are dug into, the other three Majors also make money, and not all of it comes to players, who make the sport a great viewing experience. Today, the players, led by Novak Djokovic, agree that it is payback time. Paris Olympics champions Zheng Qinwen has said an increased prize money structure will be beneficial for the lower-ranked players. "I think that's going to benefit all the players, not only the top players, especially those that work hard during the year and need to get paid from the Grand Slams and have to survive," added the Chinese World No.8. "We try to do what we can, and then let's see what the gods bring to us. But at least we're trying,” she said.

For the record, all this is happening a fortnight after legend Novak Djokovic launched legal action against the tennis bodies through the PTPA. It is through legal experts, since taking on the sharks is not child play. To borrow from the phrase of the Serbian, when the association was launched, he is against ‘monopolistic control’ of the tour and wants an end to it.