Minimum wage will be offered to men’s tennis players to help lower-ranked deal with finances
A minimum wage will be offered to men’s tennis players to help lower-ranked athletes deal with the financial strain of the sport, with amounts set on expected earnings for a season
- Men’s tennis is preparing to offer players minimum wage
- The move will help ease the financial strain on lower-ranked players
- The opening games of the extensive Madrid Open begin on Tuesday
Men’s tennis players are being offered minimum wages to try and ease some of the financial pressure on the lower-ranking.
There are plans to guarantee a certain amount of money to those ranked around 300 and above based on their projected earnings for a season, meaning they can expect a base amount to cover their costs.
Golf’s PGA in America has secured a similar plan worth $500,000 in light of the LIV Tour threat, but the amounts – which have yet to be finalized – are likely to be much smaller for their tennis counterparts trading their trade on the market . Challenger level of the track.
An expanded earning opportunity for players of both sexes kicks off on Tuesday with the opening matches of the Madrid Open, which has grown into a 13-day event with 96 players in each of the singles draws.
Part of the British contingent may have striking draws, with Emma Raducanu having to play a qualifying match in the first round. If she could win, it would be the first opponent of world number one Iga Swiatek to have a bye.
Men’s tennis players are offered a minimum wage to ease the financial strain
Andy Murray starts his Madrid Open in a first round qualifier
GB number two Jodie Burrage, who could potentially overtake her in the rankings this week, won her first qualifying round on Monday with a 6-3 6-1 victory over Spain’s Rosa Vicens Mas.
She will face former French Open finalist Sara Errani for a place in the main draw.
Andy Murray faces a first round qualifier and could face second seed Daniil Medvedev in round two.
An interesting opener sees Kyle Edmund, on the long road back from knee problems, against ex-US Open champion Dominic Thiem, who also has long-standing physical issues.