· Phased increases from 2016 onwards at professional tennis entry levels
· Ongoing analysis of weekly Pro Circuit player job opportunities
· Review of transition journey from Juniors to Pro Circuit
The ITF Board of Directors has approved an extensive programme of prize money increases for the ITF Pro Circuit following a detailed review of the ITF professional tennis structure and an extensive consultation with over 8,000 tennis stakeholders at all levels of the game. The phased introduction of increases commencing 2016 will seek to minimise the impact of prize money rises on tournament numbers and player opportunities worldwide while better rewarding players at the Pro Circuit level.
In order that the prize money increases are as effective as possible, the ITF will look to ensure that all prize money categories are geographically spread with a set number of job opportunities each week. The phasing of the prize money increases will also allow the ITF to assess the impact of the initial rises on tournament numbers and job opportunities.
“The ITF Pro Circuit is the foundation of professional tennis where the next generation of top professionals is developed thanks to the investment and support of the ITF and its National Association partners,” said ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti.
“The ITF Board of Directors has taken an important step forward by increasing prize money levels at Circuit tournaments. Combined with a targeted approach to set weekly tournament numbers, these increases will have a considerable and positive effect on players at all levels of the game. At the same time, the ITF is committed to introducing changes in a phased manner, to minimise the impact on tournament numbers, especially in developing tennis nations, to ensure no nation or its talented players are priced out of professional tennis.”
On the ITF Men’s Circuit, $15,000 category tournaments will be increased to $25,000 in 2016, while the lower-level $10,000 tournaments will be increased to $15,000 in 2017. Additional rises are currently planned for 2018 and will be announced in due course.
The ITF Women’s Circuit, which currently includes tournaments between $10,000 and $100,000, will see the elimination of the $15,000 category in 2016 with the view that these tournaments will offer $25,000 in prize money. In 2017 prize money levels will rise to between $15,000 and $125,000, ahead of further proposed increases in 2018.
The Pro Circuit Review also assessed various changes to the entry levels of professional tennis to ensure developing tennis nations are financially able to continue to host events in the future. These changes will continue to be reviewed in 2015 for future consideration by the ITF Board of Directors and both Tours.
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