Uncle Nadal Laments High Prize Money Won By Top Players

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 11th September 2013

Uncle Nadal Laments High Prize Money Won By Top Players

epa03784071 Spanish tennis coach Toni Nadal, uncle of Rafael Nadal, sits in the stands during the ATP tennis tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, 11 July 2013. EPA/MARIJAN MURAT |

As Rafael Nadal did the traditional round of New York expected of the US Open champion – clambering the boulders in Central Park for photographers and a succession of daytime chat shows on various television channels – his uncle and coach Toni questioned the ‘ridiculously high’ amount of money not just his nephew but all top line sportsmen are now earning.

Nadal’s second US Open title, combined with coming top in the US Open series after ATP World Tour Masters 1000 wins in Montreal and Cincinnati, meant he finally climbed onto the private jet chartered to wing him from the Big Apple to Madrid where he is part of the Spanish squad for the upcoming Davis Cup World Group play-off against the Ukraine, $3.6 million richer.

But Uncle Toni, a deep thinker and man of principles did not mix his words when interviewed by the Spanish radio station ‘Onda Cero’. Back home the sporting media in Spain have been kept busy during Rafa’s momentous run at Flushing Meadows by the 91 million euro ($121m) trade or transfer of soccer player Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur in London to Real Madrid.

Toni Nadal said: “I think it’s wrong for that much money to be paid, but not just for Bale – sometimes I also think what Rafael, Tata Martino or Xavi earn is over the top. More so when you look at the fact that a first division coach in La Liga (Spanish soccer league) earns much more to manage 20 people than a Prime Minister does. We live in a crazy world.”

And Toni admitted he would be an uncomfortable passenger in the private jet, not because of safety issues but because he didn’t like the big expenditure involved, considering the financial crisis currently crippling Spain. He said: “I’ve already told Rafa my opinion.

“I don’t like big expenses, and much less the Spanish team making them for Rafa or anyone else. If the match was a Davis Cup final against Serbia or against top opponents, I think that both Verdasco and Robredo would be capable of winning it. Given that the country is in a bad state at the moment, I don’t think people should be showing off by taking private jets.”

Then clearly in an expansive mood, Toni changed his focus on the International Olympic Committee’ decision made in in Buenos Aires to award the 2020 Olympic Games to Tokyo rather than Madrid.

“The IOC does not really care what people spend,” he said. “If they knew that they weren’t going to give it to Madrid, which is a decision I think they had already made, then don’t make us spend that money. This country can’t afford big outlays. The Spanish delegation was the biggest in Buenos Aires, which I also think is madness.”

Prize Money Earned In 2013 By Top Ten Man

1 Nadal, Rafael $10,448,869

2 Djokovic, Novak $7,259,112

3 Murray, Andy $5,416,221

4 Ferrer, David $3,170,680

5 Del Potro, Juan Martin $2,373,611

6 Berdych, Tomas $2,023,703

7 Wawrinka, Stanislas $1,952,348

8 Federer, Roger $1,925,336

9 Gasquet, Richard $1,869,183

10 Tsonga, Jo-Wilfried $1,438,064

Topics: 10sballs, Andy Murray, Atp World Tour, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Sports, Tennis, Toni Nadal, US Open

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Ringham7 says:

September 11, 2013 at 10:10 am

@10sBalls_com Toni Nadal’s feet have never left the ground which is why Rafa generally sets such a good example.Toni’s right about Olympics
superslamtennis says:

September 11, 2013 at 11:27 am

RT @10sBalls_com: Uncle Nadal Laments High Prize Money Won By Top Players: As Rafael Nadal did the traditional round of N… http://t.co/57…