ATP’s OneVision Strategy Powers Record Player Compensation Surge In 2023

ATP Tour (photo: Florian Heer)

LONDON, October 4, 2024 (ATP Press Release)

The ATP has confirmed record player compensation for the 2023 season, following the completion of the ATP Masters 1000 profit-sharing calculation, a key element of its OneVision strategic plan.

A total of $241.6 million was distributed to players across the ATP Tour and ATP Challenger Tour through On-Site Prize Money, Performance Bonus Pools, and Player Retirement Plan contributions. An additional $104.5 million in Grand Slam men’s prize money brought total men’s compensation to an unprecedented $346.2 million for the year.

ATP-associated events accounted for 70 per cent of overall men’s player compensation, with 30 per cent coming from the Grand Slams.

The ATP Masters 1000 events, in particular, saw substantial increases under OneVision reforms. On-Site Prize Money at ATP’s top-tier tournaments rose to $70.4 million, up from $55.6 million in 2022, driven by the expansion to 96-player draws at Madrid, Rome and Shanghai (which was not held in 2022 due to the pandemic). The bigger draw sizes provide more money to more players, aligning with ATP’s goal of increasing the number of players who can make a sustainable living from tennis.

The Masters 1000 Fixed Bonus Pool, paid out according to performance and participation across the category, rose to $20 million in 2023. Meanwhile, the profit-sharing model, first introduced in 2022, will deliver an additional $6.6 million to players through the Variable Bonus Pool for 2023. The calculation, based on detailed financial audits of all nine Masters 1000 tournaments, ensures that profits generated by the events — above on-site prize money — are shared equally, with 50 per cent allocated to players.

Total player compensation across the ATP Masters 1000 events and the Nitto ATP Finals, including Bonus Pools, reached $112 million. Combined with the Grand Slams ($104.5 million), the sport’s 14 biggest events delivered $216.5 million in men’s player compensation for the year.

ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi commented: “Through OneVision, our goal is clear: to align the interests of players and tournaments, strengthen premium events, enhance the fan experience, and drive long-term growth for the entire sport. We are unlocking new investment and laying the foundation for a true partnership between players and tournaments, sharing equally in tennis’s success.

“This is just the beginning, and we continue to work with other entities in tennis on a shared vision for the sport’s future. We remain committed to advocating for unified governance, fair player representation, and a centralised commercial strategy — all with the aim of providing a better experience for fans.”

OneVision has also driven unprecedented investments in tournament infrastructure across the Masters 1000 category, highlighted by multi-million-dollar renovation projects in Cincinnati, Madrid, Rome, and Shanghai. In Paris, the Rolex Paris Masters will relocate to La Défense Arena in 2025.

Elsewhere, a new $1.3 million Bonus Pool was also introduced for the ATP 500 category, further enhancing player earnings. The ATP 500 tournaments will also undergo full financial audits in 2024 with a view to moving to a profit-sharing formula in future years.

On the ATP Challenger Tour, prize money surged 75 per cent, reaching $21.2 million in 2023, alongside a 170 per cent increase in the number of Challenger 100 and 125 events on offer to players.

The ATP Player Retirement Plan distributed approximately $19 million to 165 eligible players in 2023, following a record year in 2022 ($28 million) that was driven in part by the transfer sales of the Madrid and Cincinnati tournaments.

The 2024 player compensation levels will be released in 2025, following a comprehensive financial audit of this year’s nine ATP Masters 1000 events, which will determine the profit-sharing calculation for 2024.