The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) is reportedly aiming towards spending about $5.2 million from fund repository in order to push up the prize money at different events to help players and tournaments that have financially suffered due to the pandemic.
The five-month global lockdown in 2020 forced professional tennis circuit to remain shut, which otherwise required players to jet around the world. The lockdown consequently impacted lower-level players that were depending on the prize money. 2021 has been less severe as of now, with tournaments still being played with handful or no crowd (except the AO).
The ATP 250 and 500 events that had cut its minimum prize money back for 2021 back in 2019 to 50% levels, has now relieved the levels up to 80% and 60%, respectively until the end of June that will mark the start of Wimbledon.
The body sponsoring the funds estimates the amount in the region of $5.2 million will be taken from ATP bonus pool to support the top 12 eligible players by the end of the season. The ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi appreciated the ATP Player Council, consisting of both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, representing the top 10 players. In a statement Gaudenzi said, “Our tournaments’ revenues continue to be severely impacted by restrictions on ticket sales, and a substantial improvement on this front looks unlikely before mid-year.”
ATP even covered the hotel expenses of each tour and challenger event in 2021, by providing a relief of $10,000 to cut the additional costs of Covid-19 precautions and isolation situations. Currently, Rotterdam Open and Argentina Open are being held as per schedule. These two evets will be followed by Qatar Open, Open 13 and Chile Open – all set to commence from Monday, 8th of April.