LONDON – The ATP will guarantee its players a minimum wage for the first time as part of a three-year trial to be launched in 2024, men’s tennis’ governing body has said.
The “Baseline” programme will guarantee minimum income for the top 250-ranked singles players each season, with the ATP covering any shortfall should their earnings fall below the threshold.
For 2024, the levels are set at US$300,000 (S$407,200) for the top 100, US$150,000 for those ranked 101st to 175th, and US$75,000 for those between 176th and 250th in the world.
The ATP said it expected to provide financial support to between 30 and 45 players who meet the criteria.
“This assurance will empower players to plan their seasons with greater certainty, focus on their game and invest in their teams,” the ATP said in a statement on Tuesday. “This includes covering the expenses of coaches and personal physios as well as travel.”
While the leading players on tour earn huge sums of money, including from endorsement deals, their lower-ranked colleagues largely depend on tournament earnings to make ends meet.
Many players endured severe financial struggles during the Covid-19 pandemic when the season was temporarily halted, prompting big names like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to call for a solution.
The ATP said it will also commit to supporting players who compete in fewer than nine ATP Tour and Challenger Tour events in a season due to injury.
The thresholds for the injury protection initiative are set at US$200,000 (top 100), US$100,000 (101-175) and US$50,000 (176-250) for 2024, it added.
ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi, who was re-elected for a second term in June, said the initiative was a “total shift” in the way the sport approached player finances.
“It represents our commitment to the players and their careers – fostering an environment where they can thrive and elevate the sport,” the 50-year-old said.
“It is also just the start of what we hope to achieve. Our ambition is to expand this game-changing initiative in the years to come.”
Bulgarian world No. 19 Grigor Dimitrov, a member of the ATP player advisory council, said: “Being a professional tennis player comes with incredible rewards, but it’s also a challenging journey, especially for those starting their careers.
“Baseline is a game-changer. Knowing that we have a safety net through the minimum guarantee and injury protection pillars gives us peace of mind, allowing us to focus on our game and strive for success.”
Meanwhile, former world No. 1 Serena Williams gave birth to her second child, a girl named Adira River Ohanian, and along with husband Alexis Ohanian welcomed the new arrival in social media posts on Tuesday.
“Welcome my beautiful angel,” she wrote in the caption of a video posted on TikTok that shows her, Ohanian and their four-year-old daughter Olympia embracing the newborn.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion had said she was “evolving away” from tennis after the 2022 US Open. This latest announcement makes a return to competitive tennis appear highly unlikely for the 41-year-old American.
REUTERS, AFP
