KMC Forums - The 2,000,000th post game

! Give Me The Money !
By Jesse White, Indooroopilly State High School Magazine Article.

To earn 1 million dollars is a dream for many� unless you are a top World Ranking Tennis player, with major sponsor ship and media coverage tied in with a few grand slams you could be earning tens of millions.

On the left is Novak Djokovic and to the right Rodger Federer
The Elite
Whilst top players in the tennis world like Novak Djokovic may earn up to $2.3 million for winning the tennis grand slam and further financial benefit due to sponsoring contracts, it is ridiculous to think that these elite want even more money. Rodger Federer is currently ranked 3rd in the World Tennis Rankings and holds the record for career prize money ($93 million) and Grand Slam singles titles (17) (K,Bandenhausen, 2015).
With the sport of Tennis itself influenced by a large amount of sponsorship funding and media coverage it is surprising that the top athletes are asking for more money especially considering the amount of sponsoring contracts and advertising deals present. If we were to once again look at Rodger Federer we would see that his sponsor portfolio is filled with long-term deals with blue-chip companies like Nike, Rolex and Credit Suisse (K.Bandenhausen, 2015). After extending his Mercedes-Benz deal at the end of 2014 for another three years and partnering with the sports brand Wilson a more than sufficient financial income can be seen to support the world number 3 and a need for further income should be dismissed (K. Thull, 2013)
Djokovic, who is currently ranked 2nd in the world profits earnings of $48.2 million from prize money and sponsors, �taking $63 million in prize money since the start of 2011, he now ranks second all-time in prize money with $83 million and his sponsorship deals with ANZ, Jacob�s Creek, Peugot and Seiko last year� adding to his off-court earnings hit $31 million (S. Kutz, 2014).
The Other Side of the Coin
It is not always so easy to live, financially, in the �comfort life� for other tennis players, especially those ranked past 50th in the World Tennis Ranks. An example of this insufficient financial gain in tennis is Igor Andreev, a Russian who at the time of 2012 was ranked 100th.
Whilst making $223,688 the expenses of paying for travel, accommodation and use of training facilities outweighed the prize money Igor received for playing tennis alone. This is the case for many lower ranked tennis players; in the US Open 2012 any competitor who fell out in the round of 128 would only receive a cash payment of $23,000 (Money Talk, 2012).
Figueroa�s Frame work comes to mind when discussing sports income and elitism, Professor Peter Figueroa is a sports sociologist who developed a frame work to investigate the issues surrounding access, equity and equality in sport and physical activity across 5 different but interrelated levels (G. John, 2011).
In tennis, players have to pay their own expenses which include facilities, travel and the salaries of their coaches and trainers (S. Kutz, 2014). Unfortunately for many the prize money awarded for the lower ranked players barely covers these expenses if at all. The vast difference in funding and cash flow limits and impairs the amount of access and equity available to those of a smaller rank
it is the lower players [both men and women alike] who are in need for more funds to continue their place in the tennis world ranking and to continue their passion for the sport at an elite level but sponsorships and media coverage only go to the best of the best in the Tennis world.
Personally I don�t� think that the Tennis elite should be granted any more money considering the payout they are receiving for maintaining their high ranking position and sponsor ship deal. If anything the lower ranked players such as Igor should be given more money in order to pursue their Tennis careers considering the amount of effort and lack of funds they are receiving.