New York (AFP)

The prizes distributed by the Grand Slam tournaments are huge, but too few players benefit. So some of them have campaigned at the US Open to increase the share of profits reserved for players, so that they are more likely to live well tennis.

The slogan has been worn for some time by the chairman of the Novak Djokovic Players Council, but has been put forward by others at Flushing Meadows.

"I think the prices are really high, they double, double, double in each round, and obviously the guys who are going far are doing well," said Canadian Vasek Pospisil on Tuesday.

The winner of the US Open (male and female) will receive $ 3.8 million in 2019 and the 128 losers and losers of the first round will have $ 50,000 bonus. But this is one of four Grand Slam tournaments where, except injury, the best are on the bill.

Because, if they are still significant on the main circuit of the ATP, the endowments collapse at tournaments Challengers (2nd division) where they are less than 170,000 dollars in total, not to mention the circuit Futures (3rd div.). Pay levels that promote corruption and rigged betting.

"If there were to be any increases, I think there is no longer any need for her to reach the top," said Roger Federer on Wednesday, who recalls receiving $ 450,000 for the first of his 20 Grand Prix titles. Slam, in 2003 in Australia.

- 50,000 for a defeat -

"People like to say + look at this guy, he lost in the first round by taking 6-2, 6-2, 6-3, and he still picked up a check for $ 50,000 +, but it's not the right one. way of looking at things, "stressed Pospisil after qualifying for the second round.

"This player had won 43 top-level games to reach a ranking that qualifies him directly in the table, and he has only four tournaments in the year to earn so much money," said the Canadian 216th World.

However, this player pays taxes, travels around the world to play tournaments, coach, hotel, etc. The $ 50,000 is quickly swallowed up.

According to Pospisil's estimate, only the world's Top 100 earns a good living because, in the US Open for example, only 14% of the profits are paid to the players: 7% to women and 7% to men.

"I do not think it's normal when our sport is making incredible money," he said.

Sunday before the start of the US Open, Chris Kemrode, president of the ATP pushed out by the Council of players, said he, his organization was a beneficiary for the first time in years.

- "5 to 10 years" -

"It would be nice if the players could also get out on the Challenger circuit, lower down the rankings," said Federer. He is determined to "work hard" with the Council of players he has joined with Rafael Nadal, so that this goal is reached "in five to ten years."

And WTA players have lent their support to this project.

"We need to help young players to progress (...) The most important thing for me is to provide them with financial support.When progressing, their premiums will be more important, but it's really important when you're young," pleaded Sloane Stephens, winner in New York in 2017

The current situation comes from the fact that "the players are relatively powerless against the tournaments", insisted Pospisil. "We do not have a lawyer involved in the sole defense of the players' interests - how can we achieve fairness when we are talking about a business?" He asked.

At this point, there is no question of a tournament boycott: "It's very sweet: + can we come to the negotiating table so you can explain why it has to be 14%? +", Has assured the Canadian.

He recalled that in the economic model of the great American sports, owners and players share the revenue globally at 50-50.

© 2019 AFP