ATP Executive Working With Roland Garros On Prize Money Increase

Written by: Staff on 16th November 2012

ATP Executive Working With Roland Garros On Prize Money Increase

epa03259548 General view of Court Philippe Chatrier during the final match Rafael Nadal of Spain against Novak Djokovic for the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 11 June 2012. EPA/YOAN VALAT |

ATP CEO Brad Drewett and the men’s players were successful is getting the Australian Open to increase prize money by a record $4 million, and he is now working with Roland Garros to see if it will meet the tour’s demands. But Drewett says that he’s not in the business of applying heavy pressure.

“This is about what I call the tennis ecosystem, where we’re all in the same pot,” he told USA Today. “We’re all part of each other. We all have to support each other. My job is to assume it’s the same that the players deserve more and I believe they do. The argument is very compelling. Having the support of the players, particularly the top players, obviously helps my argument, which is compelling to start with. With the French, Wimbledon and the US Open, I’ve been talking to them all year. But obviously now, I’m spending a lot more time with the French. We’re making progress. I mean, it’s not until June next year, so there’s some time. I won’t put deadlines out there.”

In theory, Drewett also backed the ATP Player Council’s stance of increasing prize money to the lower and middle level players, although he recently abstained from a vote that would have given a significant increase to players in the first three rounds of the Masters Series at Indian Wells.

“My two messages to the Slams has been about players deserve more prize money based on the value they bring” he said. “And then the next issue is how we divide it up. I’m very, very focused on that as well. The gap had increased somewhat in prize money. Sport is celebrity driven in our society. These middle guys rely more and more on prize money. It’s their lifeline.That’s why I think it’s more important now to address those players.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Australian Open, Brad Drewett, French tennis news, Roland Garros, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, tennis prize money

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darlvm says:

November 16, 2012 at 7:49 am

RT @10sBalls_com: #ATP Executive Working With @RolandGarros On Prize Money Increase: ATP CEO Brad Drewett and the men’s …