Sharing is caring: Federer wants better prize money distribution

[August 29, 2019]  (Reuters) - Roger Federer is prepared to champion the cause of lower-ranked players on the ATP Tour and said at the U.S. Open on Wednesday that he would fight to ensure a bigger share of the prize pot for them in future.

Speaking after a 3-6 6-2 6-3 6-4 win over Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, Federer said the prize money for players at the top of the sport had improved significantly since he began playing but that was not the case at the other end of the spectrum.

Having been elected to the ATP Player Council with Rafa Nadal this month, Federer said a higher percentage of revenues from ATP tournaments could be used to improve the earnings of players who fail to make it to the main draw.

"That's going to be what we're going to fight for ... I know tournaments don't find it very sexy giving (increases) to first round qualies or second-round qualies," Federer told reporters.

"I do believe the Challenger players and also qualifying and second-round loser should get more. If there should be increases it shouldn't be at the top anymore. I feel like we have reached a pretty good level there."

Men's and women's champions at Flushing Meadows earn $3.85 million each, while the first round appearance fee is $58,000, up by $4,000 from last year.

Players on the Challenger Tour and the Grand Slam qualifiers often struggle to sustain their careers due to a lack of steady sponsorship as well as high expenses for coaching, travel and accommodation.

Roger Federer of Switzerland sits in his playerŐs chair during a changeover against Damir Dzumhur Bosnia and Herzegovina (not pictured) in the second round on day three of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Federer said it was important to ensure promising players do not fade away due to financial constraints.

"Even though I'm all for it shouldn't be a losers' tour, they also sacrifice a lot of their time and work equally hard as we do at the top," the 20-times Grand Slam champion added.

"We're going to get that right hopefully ... in the next ... five to 10 years."

(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; editing by Sudipto Ganguly)

[© 2019 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2019 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.