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Travel around the world, play exciting matches in full arenas and earn a lot of money in the process.
This is the ideal of many talents - and usually even more of their parents - with a view to a career in tennis.
But only very few professionals are allowed to live this ideal.
Sara Cakarevic has now got to know the much more matte side of the shiny tennis world.
The 24-year-old French woman is currently number 410 in the world.
In 2018 she took part in the qualification for the French Open and has won three ITF tournaments in her career so far.
In Prague, Cakarevic last played the qualification for a W25 tournament.
But the athletic performance faded into the background when looking at the prize money.
In the final against the top 300 player Paula Ormaechea, Cakarevic lost after a hard-fought game 5: 7, 6: 3 and 10: 8 and missed the main draw.
Well, at least the loser could still look forward to some financial consolation.
Or not?
Not fully received the award
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Cakarevic posts a photo of her prize on Instagram: She earned a total of 2.25 euros by participating in the finals.
“I wish I was kidding,” writes the professional player.
“Thanks ITF for the free coffee.
You didn't even give me the 25 cents, ”added Cakarevic.
Cakarevic deleted the post a short time later.
The composition of the premium was also evident from the premium statement: The actual premium was 45 euros, from which 6.75 euros in taxes and an entry fee of 36 euros were deducted.
That left 2.25 euros for Cakarevic.
She could hardly have paid the costs for travel, accommodation and meals.
Cakarevic has been on the ITF tour since 2014 and, according to official WTA information, has only taken in $ 83,906 in prize money during that time.
In the current year it was only $ 2767 so far.
Even if the Grand Slam tournaments have meanwhile increased their payouts for defeats in the first round of the tournament, for most players in the ranks beyond the top 200 tennis remains a business that they have to pay extra.