With tennis increasingly oriented towards the profit business, the Association of Professional Tennis Players (ATP) moves towards a model that increases its income, multiplies the prizes and consolidates a new generation of billionaire tennis players. The balance of the 2025 season and the projections for 2026 show unprecedented numbers, although they also expose a growing discontent among players due to the distribution of money and the overload of the calendar.
The ATP’s recent agreements and announcements aimed to further squeeze the economic potential of the sport. The association with the Arab countries – especially Saudi Arabia- expanded the presence of the circuit in the Middle East and paved the way for the incorporation, in the short term, of a tenth Masters 1000 on the calendar.
The economic evolution of tennis surpassed barriers unthinkable decades ago. When Guillermo Vilas conquered the 1977 US Open ante Jimmy Connors in Forest Hills -last on clay-, cashed a check $30,000. At current values, that prize would have allowed him to acquire two 70-square-meter apartments in Midtown Manhattan. The champion of US Open 2025 (was Carlos Alcaraz), instead, he received 5 million dollarsa figure enough to buy seven similar properties and still have extra money.
That contrast explains, in part, the atmosphere of celebration at the top of the ATP. In its latest report, the entity highlighted that 88 players exceeded $1 million in prize money during the 2025 seasona fact that reflects the growth of the circuit.
Beyond the influx of Arab capital, another key driver of growth was the alliance with betting houseswhich generated million-dollar income. Each match bet leaves a percentage for the ATP that, accumulated, translates into very significant figures. This point, however, arouses criticism: coaches and players demand that part of that money arrive directly to the lowest ranked tennis playersboth to improve your income and to reduce the risks linked to illegal betting.
The management of the organization maintains that the economic results will also allow improve retirement and retirement systems for players, currently limited to those who meet certain years of activity and participation requirements in the circuit. The idea is to expand this benefit, with staggered amounts depending on the route of each race.
Under the program OneVisionpowered by Andrea Gaudenzipresident of the ATP, the parent body of world tennis, carried out structural reforms that raised the profile of premium events and increased revenue. Among the most relevant changes is the new distribution model in the Masters 1000which in 2025 distributed 18.3 million dollars —an increase of 25%— among 186 players.
Growth will continue in 2026. The calendar will feature 63 tournaments in 29 countrieswhile the Masters 1000 bonus pool will amount to 21.5 million dollarsa figure similar to what the number one in the world won in awards, Carlos Alcarazthroughout the 2025 season (21.3 million). The bottom of the ATP 500 will be 3.07 million dollarsand the Challenger Tour will reach a record of 32.4 millionan increase of 167% compared to 2022.
According to official estimates, the expansion of Rome Masters 1000, Cincinnati, Shanghai and Paris contributed to 5.55 million fans attend live tournaments during 2025, in addition to a global audience of more than one billion people.
Tennis, as a business, works and attracts more and more brands, federations and sponsors. The ATP managed to renew its long-term agreements and add new companies to the commercial ecosystem. However, behind closed doors, the players demand better distribution of income and a reduction in competitive demandswhich fatten the pockets but punish the physical and mental health.
The challenge for the future will be to find balance: a sport that generates millions like never before, but that still has unfinished business with those who maintain the show on the field.
