The ATP is to "embark on a two-year review of the men’s game in a move that could see fewer tournaments and more prize money to ensure there is life" after the big four of Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal, according to Hugo Greenhalgh of the FINANCIAL TIMES. According to the ATP, the governing body of the men’s ATP World, Challenger and Champions tours, more than 4.5 million fans attended the ATP men’s tour last year, with the TV audience reaching 973 million for '15 -- "or more than a billion once viewing on the ATP Uncovered website is taken into account." Commercial revenues at the organization are up by 245% since '09 and sponsorship reached $160M in '15, "to be spread over the next five years." For the men's game overall, "prize money hit" $162M in '13. Yet "many players struggle to compete." Marcus Willis, the "unheralded British player who shot to fame this week when he faced Federer in the second round of Wimbledon," had until Wednesday’s match, earned just £258 ($343) from the tour. The £50,000 ($66,500) earned from reaching the second round of Wimbledon "could be a life-changer, but without such a windfall players can find it tough to fund their careers." BBC lead tennis commentator Andrew Castle said that prize money "at the bottom of the professional circuit needed to be addressed." He said, "You have to look to the next generation. And you have to make sure there's enough money that people can survive" (FT, 7/1).
