The ATP has announced a multiyear agreement that will see prize money on the ATP World Tour increase over the next three seasons, exceeding $90M (not including the Grand Slams) for the first time by '14. Prize money will increase for all tournaments. ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events will see the largest increase, up 9% in each for the next three years. Prize money at the ATP World Tour Finals will increase 30% from $5M to $6.5M, and the player bonus pool, payable to the world's top 12 eligible players, will increase 33% from $6M to $8M in '14 (ATP).
HOLDING OUT FOR A HEROINE: In N.Y., Filip Bondy wrote while men's tennis is "enjoying an orderly succession at the top of their tour, where Novak Djokovic has clambered to the summit and turned the Dynastic Duo of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer into a ruling troika," women's tennis is "in an utter state of chaos." Top-ranked female player Caroline Wozniacki has yet to win a major and "the same can be said for two others ranked in the top four, Vera Zvonareva and Victoria Azarenka." Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters and Venus Williams -- "arguably the three best players in the sport -- are all injured or coming off long layoffs." In addition, "six different women have reached the finals of the three majors this year, with three different champions." Bondy wrote, "Everybody awaits the ascension of the next great woman multi-champion, who has yet to reveal herself. This represents one of the longest periods of stalled evolution in memory" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/5).
GRUNT WORK NEEDED: SI.com's Jon Wertheim noted he received a lot of "anti-grunting mail" during the Wimbledon ladies' singles tournament, and wrote the issue has "reached a tipping point." Wertheim: "Clearly a lot of you don't merely despise the shrieking; it is causing you to tune out, which is troubling." Some readers noted that players, including Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, said that "grunting doesn't bother," so then "why should we care?" But Wertheim wrote if grunting is "turning off fans and sponsors and television partners, it's a big deal." Wertheim: "If I'm the WTA, I take this seriously. It's embarrassing, it's off-putting and it has the potential to cost women's tennis a lot of money" (SI.com, 7/3).
TIME FOR THE NEXT CHALLENGE? In Arizona, Greg Hansen wrote when ATP Exec Chair & President Adam Helfant steps down at the end of this year, his "most likely replacement" would be Pac-12 Commissioner and former WTA Chair & CEO Larry Scott. Hansen: "What more can he do as commissioner of the Pac-12? ... The league's future seems secure, with or without Scott. He rebuilt and expanded the front office and surrounded himself with established college and pro administrators" (ARIZONA DAILY STAR, 7/5).
