Tennis: Increasing Prize Money for Athletes

Professional sports generate and consume a lot of money, and tennis is a prime example. The bar is continually raised, including regarding the prizes at stake. The Indian Wells tournament in March will offer total prizes of 19 million dollars, the highest among all combined WTA 1000 and ATP Masters 1000 competitions, according to the organizers. This figure represents an increase of over 1.4 million dollars compared to last year, with the most additional money being allocated to singles players participating in qualifiers and the main draw until the second round. "Every year, we evaluate every aspect of our event - from prize money to scheduling, facilities, and amenities - to ensure a top-notch experience for players and fans," said Steve Christian, COO of BNP Paribas Open. "This year, we are proud to award record prizes and are very focused on rewarding all players participating in the BNP Paribas Open." The tournament is also changing its schedule and will have, for the first time, a day with all quarterfinals on March 14, when all eight quarterfinal matches will be played. The annual event in the Southern California desert, near Palm Springs, is owned by billionaire Larry Ellison, who also owns the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Last month, players voted it the ATP Masters and WTA 1000 Tournament of the Year for the ninth consecutive time, an unprecedented feat, and over 450,000 fans attended the 2023 edition. Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina are the reigning champions of the tournament, which takes place this year between March 6 and 17.

The largest prizes in tennis are offered at the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open, the four Grand Slam tournaments of the year.

The US Open remains the Grand Slam with the largest prizes in history. In 2023, the total prizes amounted to 60.5 million dollars. Singles champions received 2.6 million dollars, and finalists received 1.3 million dollars.