The tennis world is not always full of glamor and wealth. This was shown by professional Sumit Nagal. He published his account balance.
Grand Slam record winner Novak Djokovic earned $175 million in his career. An incredible sum that other tennis professionals only dream of. Because while the top stars can make a good living from sport, the situation for players outside the top 100 in the world rankings is completely different.
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Nagal, currently number 159 in the world rankings, made this clear. The 26-year-old Indian earned almost $90,000 (84,000 euros) in prize money this season, but also has ongoing expenses. That’s why the Indian number one denounced the lack of financial support to the news agency “PTI”. “When I look at my bank account, I now have as much as I had at the beginning of the year – 900 euros,” said Nagal.
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“I have to spend everything I earn straight away,” said the 26-year-old. Travel and his support team must be financed. The Indian can only take a coach with him to the tournaments; it would no longer be possible to finance having a physiotherapist on site. “The annual cost of traveling with a coach is around 100,000 to 120,000 euros,” calculated Nagal, who collected 20,000 euros for his defeat in the first qualifying round for the US Open.
After all, the Indian receives his rackets and shoes from supplier Yonex. Financial support from the “Maha Tennis Foundation” and the Indian oil company IOCL would only ensure that the tennis professional’s account is not in the red. The 26-year-old lamented the lack of support from his country despite being the Indian number one. “It’s so difficult to get financial support in India. I don’t know what to do. I’ve given up,” said Nagal.
But the tide could now turn for the 26-year-old. According to media reports, the US company Gatorade has offered the Indian a three-year contract, and the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association would also like to support him. From 2024, the ATP also wants to pay a basic income to the top 250 players in the world rankings. For Nagal, that would amount to 136,000 euros.
Nav-Account red Time23.09.2023, 12:05| Akt: 23.09.2023, 12:34
2023-09-23 10:05:58
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