[KournikovaFan91]

Seems people here thing R1 losers should just get hotel and flight expenses and thats it Because of course every first round loser just turned up for the cheque

[tenn_ace]

Time for umpires to walk out. They are paid peanuts as well.

[xzchief]

The journeymen (and journeywomen) need to remember that people are not paying to watch them. People don't watch TV hoping to see the 84th-ranked player.

Players on the challenger circuit aren't supposed to make a comfortable living. The idea is to improve their play and their rankings so they can graduate to the top circuit. They aren't suppose to be happy being second-tier players.

[Miracle Worker]

Originally Posted by xzchief

The journeymen (and journeywomen) need to remember that people are not paying to watch them. People don't watch TV hoping to see the 84th-ranked player.

Players on the challenger circuit aren't supposed to make a comfortable living. The idea is to improve their play and their rankings so they can graduate to the top circuit. They aren't suppose to be happy being second-tier players.

I guess a lot of people don't understand and don't like ideas like this one

[wayitis]

Well, ticket prices have gone up, as expected:

from "The Australian", prices in AU$

Tennis fans will bear part of the extra costs, with increases as high as 16 per cent on some tickets.

The cheapest centre-court ticket is up 10 per cent to $74.90.

Price hikes are routinely higher on concession tickets.

Ground passes bought on the day are $39, up $5.



PRICE HIKE

2013 Australian Open adult ticket increases

(2012 prices)

Men's final

$394.90 ($369.90)

Women's final

$294.90 ($289.90)

Men's semi-final (night)

$224.90 ($199.90)

Third round (night)

$134.90 ($122.90)

First round (night)

$74.90 ($67.90)

[ptkten]

I'm sure ticket prices go up almost every year anyway.

The reason I'm fine with first round losers getting a decent amount prize money is it is a reward for the success that they've had throughout the year to get into the maindraw of the tournament. These people are flying to Melbourne, staying in hotels, paying trainers and coaches etc., so most of the first round losers end up making next to nothing. Tennis players below about number 50 are woefully underpaid compared to any other sport of comparable popularity.

[sweetadri06]

Originally Posted by xzchief

The journeymen (and journeywomen) need to remember that people are not paying to watch them. People don't watch TV hoping to see the 84th-ranked player.

Players on the challenger circuit aren't supposed to make a comfortable living. The idea is to improve their play and their rankings so they can graduate to the top circuit. They aren't suppose to be happy being second-tier players.

I agree with this. You should not reward mediocrity. Alot of these lower-ranked men are so entitled.

[Pavstry.]

Originally Posted by xzchief

The journeymen (and journeywomen) need to remember that people are not paying to watch them. People don't watch TV hoping to see the 84th-ranked player.

Players on the challenger circuit aren't supposed to make a comfortable living. The idea is to improve their play and their rankings so they can graduate to the top circuit. They aren't suppose to be happy being second-tier players.

And you think most of them would be "just happy living the second-tier life"? Based on what?
This is same generalization that every 1st round loser just playing for the paycheck.

The problem is that gap is bigger with every year. Lowest tournament category is 10k dollar since God knows when. But 10k dollar worth much less compared to 20 years ago.

[Mary Cherry.]

Greedy swines got what they wanted then.

[August]

Originally Posted by Melange

Ground pass price increase from $28 to $39 in two years. In two years it will be $50. Fk them

I'm not sure the price increases because of greater prize money, they just want to maximise ticket revenue. As bad as raising ticket price is for normal people, I'm OK with it in sports as long as it doesn't go to investors. And as I've understood much of AO's profit goes to Tennis Australia, and thus e.g. to junior tennis, maximising ticket revenue is OK for me.

[KournikovaFan91]

Originally Posted by ptkten

I'm sure ticket prices go up almost every year anyway.

The reason I'm fine with first round losers getting a decent amount prize money is it is a reward for the success that they've had throughout the year to get into the maindraw of the tournament. These people are flying to Melbourne, staying in hotels, paying trainers and coaches etc., so most of the first round losers end up making next to nothing. Tennis players below about number 50 are woefully underpaid compared to any other sport of comparable popularity.

Agree, some people assume that players are just pocketing 100% of the prize money and hitting the department stores to stock up on Prada, Gucci and Cartier afterwards.

The gap between the world no.1 and world no.100 is enormous.

Azarenka (1)
Tounaments played - 18
Prize Money YTD - $6,068,920

Chan (100)
Tournaments played - 16
Prize Money YTD - $142,890

That is an astronomical difference. Chan's money is only 2% of Azarenka's (talk about income inequality).
Azarenka's 4R run at RG earned her almost as much as Chan has all year.

Even World No.30 McHale has only won $439,543, Kirilenko who has had a good year at 15 has won $1,018,389.
So yes until you are I would say Top 30 plus you aren't exactly living the high life. Makiri earns double McHale but Azarenka earns 6 times as much as Makiri.

[Marcoo]

Good for all top players men players has been complaining and now there it is

[Wiggly]

It's normal there's a massive difference in prize money.

Top players play in a 10 000/15 000 seats stadium while journeywomen play on a 50 seats court.
That doesn't generate the same money.

It's important that journeywomen get a decent salary so that they can use the money to improve their game.
If you use the money to buy yourself a Chanel dress, that's another story.

You can't compare a tennis journeyman to the 300th best NHL scorer.
That guy has a role within the team and will play all 82 matches in front of 15 000 fans + TV.

A journeyman's role is to lose in the first round in front of 50 people and may play on a big stadium once or twice if he plays a big name.

[KournikovaFan91]

Originally Posted by Wiggly

It's important that journeywomen get a decent salary so that they can use the money to improve their game.
If you use the money to buy yourself a Chanel dress, that's another story.

Very few journeywomen have Chanel in their closet.

[Wiggly]

Originally Posted by KournikovaFan91

Very few journeywomen have Chanel in their closet.

Well, that's obviously an exaggeration.
Still, many players like to live the high life with big hotels and hot restaurants and then they say "I"m broke".
Live within your means.