Carlos Alcaraz has missed out on $2.4m (£1.8m) in prize money due to a rule that penalises absence from ATP Masters 1000 tournaments. The 22-year-old, who currently leads the Bonus Pool with 4,420 points, would have earned $4.8m (£3.6m) had he featured in each of the competitions, but he’s been forced to give up half of his purse.
Earlier this month, Alcaraz dropped the curtain on the best season of his career, ending the year as world number one. The Spaniard played in 11 finals and won eight titles – two of which were Grand Slams; the French Open (Roland Garros) and the US Open.
Alcaraz soared to the top of the Bonus Pool rankings, taking a handsome cut of the $21m (£15.9m) fund which is distributed among the 30 players who earn the most points across the Masters 1000 tournaments and the ATP Finals.
The ATP’s One Vision strategic plan has injected an additional $11.5m (£8.7m) into the purse since 2022, making tennis one of the most lucrative sports in the world. While there’s a lot of money to be won, there are rules in place to penalise those who do not compete.
Alcaraz would have taken home $4.8m (£3.6m), but there’s a rule that reduces a player’s reward by 25 per cent for every Masters 1000 tournament missed due to withdrawal or injury, up to a maximum of three. From four absences onwards, the reduction of prize money is 100 per cent.
So, having skipped the Canada Open in the summer and the Shanghai Open in the Autumn, Alcaraz will only receive half of his purse – $2.4m (£1.8m). The tennis star was exempt from a penalty when he missed the Madrid Open, having still visited the Spanish capital to fulfil his tournament commitments, as per ATP regulations.
Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner will go home for Christmas empty-handed. The 24-year-old, who finished second in the Bonus Pool with 3,850 points, missed four Masters 1000 tournaments; Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Canada.
Back in August, Sinner wasn’t afraid to publicly criticise the Grand Slam tournaments regarding concerns about ‘player welfare benefits’ and increased prize money.
Speaking to The Guardian in October, the Italian said: “We had good conversations with the Grand Slams at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon, so it was disappointing when they said they cannot act on our proposals until other issues are resolved.
“Calendar and scheduling are important topics, but there is nothing stopping the Slams from addressing player welfare benefits like pensions and healthcare right now.
“The Grand Slams are the biggest events and generate most of the revenue in tennis, so we are asking for a fair contribution to support all players, and for prize money that better reflects what these tournaments earn.
“We want to work together with the Slams to find solutions that are good for everyone in tennis.”