MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. Checks that don't fit in a pocket. Records that are rewritten every year. Prize money in tennis is fantastic numbers. But who gets them? Do all players bathe in gold? And why is tennis one of the most expensive sports for both stars and mid-level players? Let's take a calculator and figure out where the money comes from and where it goes. FROM WHERE DO THE MONEY ON PRIZES COME The main source is tournaments. Grand Slam tournaments (Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, US Open) earn money from tickets, broadcasts, sponsors, and the sale of souvenirs. Their income is counted in hundreds of millions of dollars. And they share it with players. For example, in 2024, the total prize fund of the US Open exceeded 75 million dollars, and Wimbledon - 50 million pounds. Next come the tournaments of the Masters 1000 series (for men) and the WTA 1000 series (for women). Their funds are from 7 to 12 million dollars. Tournaments of the 500 and 250 series are smaller: from 1 to 3 million. And finally, challengers and futures - the lowest league of professionals - there the funds can be from 25 to 150 thousand dollars for the entire tournament. In addition, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) pay bonuses for qualifying for the Year-End Tournament, as well as have their own funds to support players in lower tiers. All these money circulate in the system, but are distributed extremely unevenly. TOP PLAYERS: MILLIONAIRES ON RACQUETS Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Serena Williams - their prize money for their careers has exceeded 150 million dollars each. Only prize money, not counting advertising and personal contracts. Djokovic has earned nearly 185 million dollars in prize money by 2025. Month by month, he received checks for 3-4 million for winning a Grand Slam tournament. Plus bonuses from ATP for first place in the ranking. For example, the distribution at the Grand Slam: the winner ... Read more