“I have 900 euros in the account”: Tennis professional presents shocking reality

class=”sc-29f61514-0 icZBHN”>

The distribution of prize money in professional tennis accompanies the circus as the demand for the best player of all time. Although tournaments ensure that more and more money flows, it is mainly the top stars who benefit from this. The players outside the top 100, on the other hand, sometimes suffer greatly.

One of them is Sumit Nagal. The 26-year-old Indian is number one in his country and number 159 in the world. Yet he complains about a lack of money, as he revealed in an interview with the Indian news agency PTI: “When I look at my bank account, I now have the same amount as at the beginning of the year: 900 euros. “

He has received financial support from the “Maha Tennis Foundation” and the Indian oil company IOCL, but that only helps him avoid ending up in the red. “I have to spend everything I earn immediately,” says Nagal, who has to make do without a major sponsor. The rackets and shoes would be supplied by supplier Yonex. He can only travel by coach and he cannot take Physio with him.

“I Gave Up”

So far this year he has participated in 24 tournaments (mainly at Challenger level) and earned around 74,000 euros, more than 20,000 just from his defeat in the first qualifying round at the US Open. But: “The annual costs for traveling with a trainer are around 100,000 to 120,000 euros.” So far he has earned around 700,000 euros in his career.

Nagal does not feel supported by the state or the tennis association, even though he is the best player in the country with 1.4 billion inhabitants. He was the first Indian tennis professional to qualify for a Grand Slam tournament and win a match. He is also the first Indian to survive one round of the Olympics (Tokyo 2021). ‘It is so difficult to find financial support in India. Honestly, I don’t know what to do. I gave up.”

New sponsorship deal and ATP basic income as a salvation?

But now his cry for help has been heard. The American drinks company Gatorade has offered the Indian a three-year contract. “I am deeply touched and grateful that Gatorade reached out,” said Nagal. The Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) has also agreed to transfer an amount to the tennis professional.

And if the 26-year-old can remain in the top 250 in the world, he would also benefit from the basic income that the ATP wants to introduce from 2024. As number 159 in the world, he would be guaranteed approximately $136,000. (ch)

Source : Blick