Minimum wage will be offered to men’s tennis players to help lower-ranked deal with finances

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.

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.