Former ATP pro Sam Querrey had something to say about the prize money claimed by Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka for winning the title in Indian Wells. Querrey commented during the latest episode of the Nothing Major podcast, where the hosts discussed everything that went down in Indian Wells and their predictions for Miami.
“[Jannik] Sinner and [Aryna] Sabalenka for winning Indian Wells both got $1.15m. I am convinced they should get $3m. The players are underpaid. I believe they should be getting closer to $3m for winning that. The semifinalist of the men’s tournament this year got less than they did five years ago,” Querrey said.
Explaining his stance on players deserving a better share of the revenues generated throughout the tournament, Querrey stated that players exiting in the early stages are earning more than they did five years ago. Furthermore, he gave the example of a golf tournament and how the winner received a hefty prize despite it not being a Major.
“Now there is more in some of the early rounds, but still… We obviously don’t know what TV rights are like, but that stadium holds 20,000 people. If you do 20,000 x $250 a ticket, that is $5 million,” Querrey said.
Every time Sinner played, it was basically sold out. That’s six times. You can argue that Sinner is responsible for $30m in ticket sales for his six performances on court. Of course, you can argue other players and things factor in, and then we are not getting into TV rights,” he added.
“In comparison to golf, Cam Young won the TPC Sawgrass event yesterday, not a major, and got $4.5m. I get it’s on NBC, and the numbers are bigger, but not four times bigger than tennis!” the American concluded.
Sinner had defeated Daniil Medvedev in the final to end the Russian’s nine-game unbeaten streak. At the same time, Sabalenka successfully avenged her Australian Open finals loss by taking down Elena Rybakina in a thrilling come-from-behind win to claim her maiden WTA 1000 title of the year.
How Much Can Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka Earn as Champions in Miami?
Sabalenka goes into the Miami Open as the defending champion, while Sinner, who had triumphed here in 2024, will be aiming to make it a back-to-back Masters 1000 title in the Sunshine swing.
Both players pocketed $1.15 million as winners of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, and the prize money structure will remain the same for the Miami Open as well.
Sinner will commence his campaign in Miami on Thursday, with his opponent yet to be decided, as will be the case for Sabalenka. Besides the prestige and honor of winning a 1000-level title on tour, players can also battle it out for 1000 valuable ranking points in both the ATP and the WTA.
Also read:
“They Would Come For Aryna Sabalenka’s Neck” – Fans Furiously Call Out Elena Rybakina Over Controversial Indian Wells Excuse After Final Loss
What Happened Between Katerina Siniakova & Camila Osorio At Miami Open Today? Handshake Drama Fully Explained
Andy Roddick Makes Bold Prediction About Victoria Mboko’s Future As Canadian Gears Up For Miami Open
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