Roger Federer has been a professional tennis player for more than 20 years now, so he has seen the many changes that arrived in the tennis world. Since he has accumulated a total of $124 million in cash prizes in his career, he knows how rewarding the sport is. But a statement that he recently made showed just how kind the Swiss tennis icon is because of his willingness to advocate for other people’s welfare.
Roger Federer wants to have better prizes for lower-ranked players
After his victory over Bosnian player Damir Dzumhur, Federer told interviewers that he wants players at the lower ranks of the tournament results to have a fairer share of their cash prize. The world no. 3 said that he wants the players who qualify for the first and second rounds of the competition to get more money. He feels that the focus of the prize increases should no longer be just at the top of the prize distribution.
The appearance fee for those who lose at the first round of the U.S. Open, for example is at $58,000. While this is already $4,000 more than last year’s amount, this is still relatively low for Federer. This is especially true considering the financial costs that come with travel, coaching, training, and accommodation of players.
Federer definitely has the power to help make the proposal come true. Apart from being one of the world’s most influential players, he and Rafael Nadal were also just elected as part of the ATP Player Council. He, however, admits that it will not be easy to plan what to do within the next five or ten years.
What are Federer’s chances of winning the U.S Open?
Meanwhile, in other U.S. Open news, it looks like the championship of the U.S. Open will still be between Federer, Nadal or Novak Djokovic. It is especially important for Federer to win because he is gunning for his sixth title in the Flushing Meadows.
But his slow start in the U.S. Open has many fans worried. While Federer won his first two rounds against Sumit Nagaland Damir Dzumhur respectively, he lost the first set in both matches. If we go back in history, not one player has lost the first set in their first two matches and then gone on to win the U.S. Open. But if Jim Courier and Martina Navratilova are to be believed, Federer has the power and skill to break that record. If Federer can defeat Djokovic and Nadal later, then he just might win the whole thing.
