Carlos Alcaraz recently participated in some tennis exhibitions in the United States, and his earnings from these events have become a hot topic.
Alcaraz took part in two exhibition matches this month, which thrilled fans but also sparked discussions due to his past comments on the tennis calendar. Despite being only 21 years old, he has been vocal about how exhausting the tennis schedule is and even wondered if the ATP is trying to “kill” players with its length.
Other players like Iga Swiatek, Alexander Zverev, and Taylor Fritz share similar concerns about the demanding season causing injuries and not giving them enough time to rest. However, Billie Jean King isn’t too sympathetic towards these complaints. She points out that if players want more rest, they should avoid extra exhibitions during their off-season.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| es Carlos Alcaraz | 21 | 68,791 | 25 - 5 |
Exhibitions vs. Rest:
Andrea Gaudenzi from ATP echoed King’s thoughts by reminding everyone that players are independent contractors who can choose their schedules. Meanwhile, Fritz defended Alcaraz by saying that playing exhibitions isn’t as taxing as official tournaments or Grand Slams.
Fans might think it’s interesting how much money influences decisions in sports. Alcaraz likely joined these exhibitions for financial reasons; he admitted that the prize money at events like Six Kings Slam was a big draw for him.
On Rennae Stubbs’ podcast, Caitlin Thompson shared some juicy details about what Alcaraz and others earned from these matches. Rumor has it that Alcaraz could have made up to $2 million! In comparison, Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro reportedly earned $100,000 each while Ben Shelton got between $200,000 and $500,000.
Despite losing to Frances Tiafoe after beating Shelton at Madison Square Garden, Alcaraz’s presence drew attention due to his star power—and possibly his paycheck size! Now he can focus on getting ready for the next season.
Even though Alcaraz is popular among fans worldwide Jannik Sinner won the 2024 ATP Fans’ Favorite Award again this year—proving he’s still beloved despite any controversies he faced.
What do you think? Should athletes prioritize rest over extra games?
