Merely 2 pct of pro tennis players earn profit: study
Updated: 2015-01-20 14:16
(Xinhua)
|
|||||||||
CANBERRA - Only 2 percent of professional tennis players earn a profit from tournament prize money, according to a study released by Tennis Australia on Monday.
The International Tennis Federation Review, which was compiled by Tennis Australia with the help of Victoria University and Kingston University, aimed to investigate tournament prize money and the way it is shared across all competitors.
It revealed that the vast majority of professional players were unable to make a living through the sport, having to pay on average more than 130,000 US dollars per year for travel costs, accommodation, equipment and coaching.
The study also showed that only 1.8 percent of male tennis players and 3.1 percent of female made a profit in 2013, accumulating for only 2.25 percent of 13,736 professional athletes.
The report goes on to estimate that 95 percent of all players would still fail to cover necessary tour costs even after sponsorship revenue is factored into the equation.
"With rising Grand Slam prize money and better than ever exposure, you might think that life's pretty glamorous for your average pro tennis player," Victoria University data analyst Michael Bane told the ABC on Monday.
"But a closer look at the numbers suggests you'd be wrong."
Only 310 players (160 men and 150 women) made a profit in 2013, with 45.5 percent of all men's players and 43.9 percent of all women's players failing to earn any prize money whatsoever.
According to Bane, the way in which prize money is divvied between athletes remains the biggest issue.
"There is actually a lot of money in tennis, totaling 162 million U.S. dollars for the men and 120 million U.S. dollars for the women," he continued.
"What makes it so difficult for developing athletes is the way it's distributed."
The report, too, indicates prize money allocation as the main factor in the disparity between tennis highest and lowest paid earners, with the top one percent of players receiving 62 percent and 51 percent of all prize money in men's and women's tournaments respectively.
"That's 97 million US dollars shared between the top 50 men, with the rest being distributed amongst everyone else," Bane said.
"Yet even amongst the top 32 men, there is severe inequality in pay.
"In comparison, the AFL, golf and motorsports show a far less rapid decline in pay with ranking."
The report has been released to coincide with the first Grand Slam event of 2015, the Australian Open, which begins in Melbourne on Monday.
The ITF will examine the report in further detail in May as part of its major review into prize money structuring and junior development.
- EU to appeal against court ruling that Hamas be removed from terrorist list: official
- UN chief urges immediate, full end to hostilities in East Ukraine
- Eurostar suspends services again due to fire
- Davos explores economic solution
- Russia marks 72nd anniversary of breakthrough of Leningrad
- The world in photos: Jan 12-18
- United Technologies opens 300 libraries in Chinese elementary schools
- New York Philharmonic to celebrate Lunar New Year
- Long Island collectors display Chinese art then and now
- China's Li Na expecting first baby
- Bank, Rockets help out school
- Top 10 trading partners of the Chinese mainland in 2014
- Yuan Dynasty fresco tomb excavated in Shaanxi
- Most artistic metro stations in China
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Tale of two cities |
China's 2014 diplomacy |
CES: Connected cars trends to watch |
Kung fu star's son sentenced to six months in prison |
CES: Spotlight on Chinese gadgets |
95% of netizens disapprove of removal of cleavage scenes |
Today's Top News
US to help China find fugitives
Chinese stocks dive most in 7 years
Protest breaks out at HP subsidiary
Marco Polo proves a hit in US
Rep Meng warns of immigrant frauds
Secret Service: Shots fired outside Bidens' home
China's civil servants to see 60% increase in salary
Hundreds of Chinese trapped by fighting in eastern Myanmar
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |