Djokovic Calls For Further Rise In Grand Slam Prize Money

Novak Djokovic believes location is "room for improvement" regarding nan prize money disposable to players astatine nan 4 Grand Slams.

Tournament prize money has been a contentious rumor this year, aft nan apical 20 men's and women's players signed a missive asking for a greater stock of revenue from nan Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.

Earlier this month, nan United States Tennis Association announced a 20% summation successful prize money for nan US Open - creating what is claims is "the largest purse successful tennis history' - pinch $90m (£67.4m) successful full up for grabs.

"Look, it's a measurement successful nan correct direction," Djokovic, 38, said connected Friday erstwhile asked if nan summation mirrors what players had successful mind.

"Obviously it's ever bully and affirmative to spot that Grand Slams are consenting to amended nan prize money wide crossed nan committee for nan players.

"Whether it's an perfect business for us, I deliberation wide I don't deliberation so. I deliberation location is still a batch much room for betterment successful that sense."

Djokovic explained that he doesn't want increases for himself, but for players little successful nan rankings who trust connected Grand Slams.

"I spot that successful nan past erstwhile I talk astir this topic, group for illustration to say, 'well, look astatine him, wanting much money for himself'. It's not astir that," said nan 24-time Grand Slam winner.

"I'm conscionable talking astir overall. Not galore tennis players unrecorded retired of this athletics globally. That's not thing that I spot has been talked astir enough.

"It's besides important to understand that we unrecorded successful a very commercialized world. Entertainment and sports business are very big.

"And for Grand Slams, they are doing very good arsenic well. So nan US Open accrued nan prize money. Other slams are doing it too. But they besides person a bigger gross than nan erstwhile year.

"Then location is nan ostentation part, which is simply a wholly different topic, but important to return successful information erstwhile you talk astir these things.

"Overall it's decidedly a affirmative step."

Earlier this year, nan Professional Tennis Players' Association (PTPA) launched ineligible action against tennis' governing bodies, citing "anti-competitive practices and a blatant disregard for subordinate welfare".

The suit by nan players' group, which was co-founded by Djokovic, sought an extremity to what it describes arsenic "monopolistic control" of nan tennis tour, arsenic good arsenic financial compensation from nan ATP, nan WTA, nan International Tennis Federation (ITF) and nan International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).

Djokovic subsequently said that "there are things that I work together pinch successful nan lawsuit, and past location are besides things that I don't work together with".

Djokovic will statesman his US Open run connected Sunday against American Learner Tien astatine Arthur Ashe Stadium successful Queens, New York City.