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David Marrero explains the difference between the ITF, Challenger, ATP tours

“We cannot compare the Futures and Challengers tour with the ATP, they have nothing to do with it,” the Spaniard told TWUSA.

David Marrero, 2013 ATP Finals doubles champion and fourteen-time ATP doubles titleholder , is well placed to know about the difference between the various levels of the professional tour. “We cannot compare the Futures and Challengers tour with the ATP, they have nothing to do with it,” he told TWUSA.

“It is true that there are some Challengers that are very good, they are very similar to the ATP, but the help we get during ATP tournaments, the treatment above all, and the conditions are wonderful. We are talking about possibly the best tournaments in the world—the hotels are paid, somebody will always get you from the airport, they give you enough facilitations to do everything you need”.

With more than a hundred ITF, Challenger, and ATP finals under his belt —in both singles and doubles —and over twenty years of experience on the circuit, Marrero can draw a reliable picture of the contrasts between the tours.

“All the good players started playing in this category. I remember when I was 19, 20 years old and I started playing like that, going to far places to try to get my first points to raise my ranking. The difference in game level is basically large because if the ATP level were similar to the ITF level, in the end, there would not be many ITFs, everyone would be playing in the ATP”.

What about the other pillars of an athlete’s career, such as nutrition, physical and mental training? “You don't see much of it at these levels for two reasons. First, the lack of information, like knowing exactly what you need to avoid losing energy.

Second, the economic level. Traveling with a coach, with a nutritionist, with a physical trainer… If a tennis player can spend 30, 40, 50 thousand dollars over a year only on flight tickets, depending on where he travels, if he travels with two more people, the total multiplies.

It can become 150 thousand only for flights. Plus the hotels, because hospitality is not included at this level, plus the diets. The difficulty is very, very, very elevated”. At the time of our conversation (early December 2019), Marrero was playing ITF tournaments in the Dominican Republic .

On a tour trip with a young man he coaches, he had seen the opportunity to enter the draw of the qualification and decided to get along with it. The simple fact of repeating an experience he had first started two decades ago made him remember how complicated the life of an ITF-level player can be.

“Here, many players travel without coaches, and everything is more complicated . They have to build their life and try not to spend a lot of money because you practically earn no money. The competition, the training, and the players… What they face is very complicated.

Obviously, at 18 years old, they do not have the same mentality as when they are 25, 26. Little by little, as they mature and the years go by, they realize that tennis is not just being on a tennis court and hitting four forehands and four backhands.

You have to try to prepare yourself on a physical level to endure the maximum possible time on the court so that the practice sessions are of quality. All this takes preparation, it takes a few years”.

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Prize Money In Tennis: ATP, WTA & Challenger Insights 2024

So, you want to know about prize money in tennis? You are wondering how much elite players earn, and are curious about life as a professional. Is it a life of privilege for all, earning millions while playing the game we love? Well, wonder no more, the Bros have you covered with our detailed breakdown.

Our analysis will almost certainly make you envious, but it may surprise you for very different reasons too. Prize money in tennis varies wildly. From grand slam winning, multi-millionaires, to journeymen and fledgling pros, life on tour can mean very different things depending on your level.

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Tennis Prize Money at the Different Levels of the Game

The big names and the biggest stages on which they play are familiar to us all. And thanks to social media we have a window into their world beyond the court. Private jets, lucrative brand deals, and A-list friends are commonplace, but this is not real life for tennis players at every level. 

For the majority of players, life on tour is tough. Prize money seldom covers a player’s expenses and it may come as a surprise just how little some professionals earn. Here we explore each level of the professional game and assess what prize money is on offer.   

Prize Money on the ITF Tours 

Life in the paid ranks starts with the ITF Futures Tour for men and for female players, the ITF Women’s Tour. This level is the foundation from which many of today’s superstars have graduated.

It is home for many new professionals and elite juniors allowing them to earn official ranking ATP points as they begin their quest to join the higher echelons.

Prize money at this level is very modest with both men and ladies competing for tournament funds totaling between $15,000 and $25,000.

Winners take home anything between $2000 and $4000 while first-round losers earn a meager cheque relative to the expense associated with travel, accommodation, and all sundry costs. Expenses that can often include equipment with many players having no brand deals at this level. Consequently, early-round losses for ITF Futures players can often result in a net loss for that week.

And if you want a real-life example of how tough things are for players at this level, we dive into this – later in this article.

The ITF World Tennis Tour, formerly known as the ITF Futures Tour, doesn’t have multiple prize money tiers like the ATP Challenger Tour. ITF World Tennis Tour events are split into different tournament categories based on a set amount of prize money offered. In 2024, these categories are:

• Men’s: M15 ($15,000) and M25 ($25,000)
• Women’s: W15 ($15,000), W25 ($25,000), W50 ($50,000), W75 ($75,000) and W100 ($100,000)

It’s important to remember that this is the total prize money for the entire tournament, which is then divided among the players based on their performance in the singles and doubles competitions.

Winners will receive the biggest chunk of the prize money, while losers will receive much less. The ITF doesn’t disclose specific breakdowns for how prize money is distributed amongst winners and losers.

Prize Money on the Challenger Tours 

The next level for professional players is the ATP Challenger Tour and WTA Challenger Series for men and ladies respectively. Here the prize money increases significantly. But again, players are battling for prize pots that are a fraction of what is made available to the game’s elite. 

In 2021, ATP Challenger Tour players competed for prize money ranging from $36,680 to $156,240 per tournament, whereas their WTA counterparts contested similar purses. For tournament winners, on average, this equated to a payday of around $21,000 to go with the winner’s trophy.

Things will change dramatically in 2023 however. A huge cash injection being made by the ATP Tour is set to elevate prize money by 60% for Challenger Tour players. 

The ATP recently announced an increase in total prize money for the 2023 season which sees their total commitment reach $21.1m over 195 tournaments. Furthermore, they have simplified the tournament ranking system.

You may hear of tournaments being classified as ATP 125 or ATP 150 and have wondered if that has something to do with prize money. Well, it refers to ranking points. The winner of an ATP 125 event garners 125 ATP ranking points. Naturally, prize money tends to increase in correlation with the ranking points on offer. 

The availability of more ranking points attracts better players, better players mean bigger audiences. Therefore the caliber of sponsors improves and so the tournament coffers grow. Thus, we generally see a direct correlation between ranking points and the prize money on offer. 

And along with increasing prize money, the ATP Tour will also revamp its ranking point classifications for Challenger Tour level tennis. In 2023 players will compete in ATP 50, ATP 75, and ATP 100 tournaments with some of the more obscure classifications (ATP 90, ATP 110) now defunct.

Finally, 2023 also sees the introduction of three ‘premium’ ATP Challenger Tour events. Players will not only play for 175 ranking points but will also duel over a $220,000 prize fund per tournament – unprecedented at this level.

Clearly (and by their own admission), the ATP Tour comprehends the importance of tennis at this level and its responsibility to help incubate future superstars. With increased financial commitment the tour is attempting to attract burgeoning talent, making it a more desirable and watchable pursuit.

The prize money on the ATP Challenger Tour in 2024 varies depending on the tournament. The ATP sets a minimum prize pool of $41,000 (or €36,900) for Challenger Tour events, but some tournaments offer significantly more. The highest tier of Challenger events, Challenger 175, offers a total prize pool of $220,000 (or €200,000) or more.

Here’s a breakdown of the prize money tiers for Challenger Tour events in 2024:

Challenger 175: $220,000+ (or €200,000+) Challenger 125: $160,000+ (or €145,000+) Challenger 100: $130,000+ (or €118,000+)

It’s important to remember that this is the total prize money for the entire tournament, which is then divided among the players based on their performance. Winners will receive the biggest chunk of the prize money, while losers will receive much less.

Prize Money on the Main Tours

As we have seen, tennis can be complicated when it comes to the many levels and associated prize money. And once we graduate to the main tours, the theme of tiers continues with tournaments ranging from ATP 250 to Grand Slam events.

In terms of how the various tournament levels translate into prize money, the below table gives a flavor of what players at most levels play for.

To illustrate the divide between levels, we can see that a winner of a Challenger 125 tournament roughly earns the same prize money as a first-round loser in an ATP 1000 tournament. Of course, you have to be pretty exceptional to be eligible for an ATP 1000 event, having ascended the ranks through ability, and in that respect, tennis can be considered a merit-based hierarchy.

Grand Slam Prize Money

The ultimate ambition for a tennis professional is to win one of the four Grand Slam tournaments. And while most players will say that tennis at this level is about history not prize money, the financial rewards are eye-watering as the below table shows.

Simply by reaching each of the four slams a player can earn over $250,000 and for many players that alone is a primary objective – to get through qualifying and potentially progress enough to help bankroll future months of travel, hotels, and coaching.

Sponsorship and more: Riches that transcend prize money

For those gifted enough to take home one of the most coveted trophies in tennis, the prize money is mere frosting on what is a very rich cake.

Emma Raducanu is the most recent example of how snagging a slam can transform a player’s profile and indeed bank balance. The young Brit pocketed a cool $2.5m for her 2021 US Open win, but that figure has been eclipsed many times thanks to a queue of blue-chip sponsors eager to capitalize on her success. A list that includes Tiffany, British Airways, Nike, Evian and Porsche. 

Additionally, Emma’s sponsors also include Wilson Tennis. She uses their Blade frame and if you are curious about her racket of choice we have a comprehensive resource dedicated to the Blade line.

Raducanu reportedly earns north of $9m each year from her portfolio of sponsors, a figure that dwarfs her 2022 on-court earnings of $697,000. A theme that is best illustrated if we study Roger Federer’s lifetime earnings.

During his career Roger Federer used his Wilson RF97 to earn over $130m earned from prize money alone. However, it is believed that Roger’s ‘total’ lifetime earnings comfortably surpasses $1bn, garnered from endorsement deals, lucrative appearance fees and merchandise sales. Proof indeed, that grand slam success is only the start – a gateway to a world that Futures players can only dream about.

And if this was not enough, the eight most successful players at the season-end (also the year’s highest earners) qualify for the season-ending ATP and WTA Finals tournaments. These limited field events see players from each respective tour battle for prize money totalling $14.7m for the men and $5m for the ladies.

If you still have an appetite for yet more wealth, there are always exhibition matches and bespoke tournaments such as the Laver Cup. It is not uncommon for elite players to command north of $500,000 for personal appearances and for those selected for the Laver Cup, they can pocket between $150,000 and $250,000 depending on the result.

For the majority of players, the struggle is real 

Media outlets tend to focus primarily on major tournaments, narrowing the public’s focus exclusively upon the higher echelons of tennis. The reality however, is stark and for every Emma or Roger, there are countless players who routinely lose money in their quest to play professional tennis.

Serving for the Wimbledon title is pressure but playing to merely pay this week’s bills and to travel next week is something else entirely. Expenses (per season) for a traveling professional can range from $40,000 for those on the strictest of budgets, to $200,000 for players electing to take their coach and/or physical trainer on tour. Figures that few lower-tier players can cover without winning consistently.

Recently, BBC Sport interviewed Algerian WTA player Ines Ibbou, who highlighted the struggle faced by players outside of the top 200. A world where prize money fails to cover all expenses and luxuries like free rackets and strings are non-existent. A sobering read that highlights the huge gulf between aspiring pros and the established elite.

Prize Money In Tennis and the Gender Debate 

No discussion of prize money in tennis would be complete without considering the topic of gender inequality in tennis – a perennial hot topic.

Both women and men enjoy the same pay scale when it comes to the Grand Slams, albeit that was a protracted process with Wimbledon becoming the last slam to invoke parity in 2007, decades after the US Open adopted this policy in 1973. But beyond the major tournaments, there still exists a significant disparity in prize money between both sexes.

Even though tennis has the lowest gender pay gap of all professional sports, men still earn 34% more prize money on average than their female counterparts. Of course, many argue WTA players consistently play less tennis (a maximum of 3-sets) compared to men who can play a maximum of 5-sets (in Grand Slams only), but nonetheless, it will remain a contentious issue until the gap narrows even further.

Prize money in tennis: The Big Questions 

Tennis is fundamentally a business competing for the interest of sports fans in general. Naturally, elite players who generate attention and attract the biggest audiences monopolize the prize money ranks. But nonetheless, it still feels as though the gulf between elite-level players and new professionals is disproportionate – notwithstanding the disparity in prize money between genders. 

It would be criminal for a player with genuine talent to leave tennis due to affordability issues, and this is not just the Bros opinion. 

Novak Djokovic and fellow pro, Vasek Pospisil, launched a players-only council in 2020 with the remit of giving a voice to and being supportive of, players at all levels. The premise was not a redistribution of wealth, more so the creation of a body that is more aware and supportive of lower-tier tennis – notably to help create sponsorship opportunities for more players. 

The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) as it is called was not widely accepted, however. Considered by many to be a breakaway and divisive faction it has yet to receive widespread support, even though its intentions appear credible. 

And so the existing dynamic and the same questions remain about an imbalance in the sport and how best to address it. But one thing is true, the rewards for those who make it are life-changing and available to all, providing you have the required tools to reach the summit. 

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French Open Prize Money (A Timeline)

In 2022 the French Open men’s and women’s champions walked away with €2.2 million each, with the runner-up pocketing €1.1 million. Not bad for a fortnight’s work! However, with a huge 12.3% increase, 2023 topped the bill with a total pot of €49.6 million. Roland Garros has always had a…

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The 8 Different Types of Tennis Tournaments

Tennis tournaments are considered as the basis for the world rankings in the professional sector. Tennis players usually aim to win as many matches and tournaments as possible in order to move up the world rankings.

You’ve probably watched a big Grand Slam tournament on TV before. They have millions of viewers and fans from all over the world cheering for the players. On the other hand, there are also tournaments you have never heard of. How does that happen?

In general, tennis tournaments are divided into different categories. Depending on their size and popularity, participants have the chance to earn a certain number of world ranking points. For a better understanding, we’ll take a look at the tournament classes and how they differ from each other.

Men’s Tennis Tournaments

In principle, men’s tournaments at international level are organised by two associations. One is the “International Tennis Federation” (ITF) and the other the “Association of Tennis Professionals” (ATP). They ensure that all rules are observed on site.

The ATP is responsible for the majority of tennis tournaments worldwide. There are a total of eight different tournament categories in the men’s singles, which we have ranked according to their value.

ITF Future Tour

The beginning is the same for every professional tennis player. To be able to participate in major tennis tournaments at all, they must have a certain number of world ranking points in their account. However, it is impossible to have points if you have not yet played in tournaments. So how do you solve this problem?

In this case the Future Tour, organised by the ITF, comes into play. Futures are smaller tournaments that are designed to help players get their first world ranking points.

A tournament victory is rewarded with up to 20 points and a prize money of $15,000 – $20,000. Tennis players who have been successful in several Future tournaments and therefore have enough points can move up to the next class.

Exception: There are some tennis tournaments where the organizer awards wildcards. These are invitations to players who would not actually be eligible to participate. This is another way to get directly into the main draw of a larger tennis tournament.

ATP Challenger Tour

In contrast to the Futures, Challenger tournaments are managed by the ATP. Thus they serve as a transition from the ITF Tour to the ATP Tour. The big advantage of these tournaments is that a hotel room with meals is provided free of charge for each player.

In addition, up to 125 ranking points can be earned here. In the best case, the winner can look forward to an additional prize money of $200,000.

ATP Tour 250

If a player has also collected a sufficient number of points on the Challenger Tour, he is able to start in an ATP Tour 250 tournament. As the name suggests, the winner will receive 250 world ranking points credited to his account. The prize money is also worth at least $400,000.

If you are defeated in a previous round, you will still not go away empty-handed. For example, the semi-finalist receives 90 points and the quarter-finalist 45 points.

In general, the competition in these tournaments is much higher, so some players have to qualify first. There the best players are then determined after one or two matches. Depending on the tournament, the organizer determins either 28, 32 or 48 entries in the main draw.

ATP Tour 500

The winner of an ATP Tour 500 tournament receives twice as many points as in a 250 event. The world ranking points of the other rounds are adjusted in the same way.

Furthermore, players will receive 10 world ranking points for each match won in the qualification round. The main draw consists of 32 or 48 players. Financially speaking, there is a prize money of about $500,000.

Currently, the ATP Tour 500 consists of 13 tournaments on several continents. This number may vary depending on the year, as the ATP may add new tournaments or remove existing tournaments from the series.

ATP World Tour Masters 1000

Even more exclusive are the tournaments of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000, with only nine Masters tournaments being played per season. Four of them are held in North America, four in Europe and one in Asia.

In these tournaments up to 96 players compete against each other at the beginning. In a period of 7-10 days the winner is determined. At the end, the winner will receive 1000 ranking points along with more than $1,000,000 in prize money.

The ATP Finals, formerly the Tennis Masters Cup, are held at the end of each men’s season. In general, they are the most important event on the ATP Tour. This tournament is always held in November in London.

At this last tournament the eight best tennis players of the season meet. In the first step the players are divided into two groups. After that, the two best players from each group will be chosen from among the four players. These then advance to the semi-finals, where they meet the two winners of the other group.

Finally, the winner can look forward to 1500 ranking points plus a bonus of $1,500,000.

The most famous tennis tournaments are probably the Grand Slams. At these tournaments, the ITF is again responsible for their organisation. Basically, we distinguish between four Grand Slam tournaments in tennis:

• Australian Open
• French Open (Roland Garros)

These Grand Slams surpass the other tournaments in almost every aspect. They are by far the most prestigious and largest tournaments in the world of tennis. The main draw alone contains 128 players. Players who do not make it directly to the main draw have to go through three qualification rounds.

Grand Slams last a total of two weeks, which also sets a record for the longest tennis tournament. In this case, the prize money for the winner is $3,500,000. He also moves up the world rankings by 2000 points.

The Davis Cup is considered the most important team competition in tennis. The International Tennis Federation is also involved here. Basically, 16 national teams compete against each other in this competition to win the cup in the end.

The nations play five rubbers per match. More precisely, that means four singles and two doubles. The team that first wins three rubbers will then advance one round.

The Davis Cup has the special feature that it is played over a very long period of time, namely several months. Finally, the final takes place at the end of November. Another exception is that no world ranking points are distributed at this tournament.

Women’s Tennis Tournaments

In general, the way to the top of the world in women’s tennis is similar to that in men’s tennis. There are also eight categories in which all tennis tournaments can be divided.

The big difference to the men’s tournaments is that in this case it is not the ATP but the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) that is responsible for the organisation and control of the tournaments. Besides the WTA, the ITF also plays a major role in some tournament formats.

ITF Women’s World Tour

If a female tennis player decides to pursue a professional career, the most common way is to play the first tournaments on the Women’s World Tour. This series of tournaments is organised by the ITF. In principle, the series is the counterpart to the Future Tour in the men’s singles.

The Women’s World Tour thus gives the player the chance to build up the points account for the world ranking step by step. In general, up to 150 points are possible in high-class tournaments. On top of this, there is also prize money, which can amount to $100,000. However, the level of play is already quite high.

WTA Challenger Series

One step above the ITF Women’s World Tour is the WTA Challenger Series. It is also called “WTA 125K” because the prize money of the tournaments is $125,000.

Depending on the tournament, the main draw is made up of 32 or 48 players. In addition, a two round qualification is played before the tournament starts. WTA Challenger tournaments usually last for 7 days. The tennis player who is victorious in the final moves up the ranking by 160 points.

WTA Premier

More points than in the Challenger Series are awarded at the WTA Premier Tournaments. In the best case there are 470 world ranking points accessible. In total the WTA holds twelve Premier Tournaments per year. On average, the winner receives prize money of $250,000.

WTA Premier 5

At the Premier 5 tournaments, the WTA’s point system makes a big leap. More precisely, the winner receives 900 points. On top of that comes a bonus of at least $500,000. However, only five tournaments of this kind are currently being held. Hence the name “Premier 5”.

WTA Premier Mandatory

The WTA rates its Premier Mandatory tournaments even higher. At this event a whole 1000 ranking points are possible. In addition, the winner receives a prize money of $1,500,000. The WTA Premier Mandatory Tournaments are limited to only four per season.

By far the most important tournament in women’s tennis is the WTA Finals, also known as the WTA Tour Championships. At the end of each tennis season, the WTA invites the eight best players of the year to Shenzhen, where the tournament is held.

Unlike the other WTA tournaments, the players initially compete in a round-robin system. This means that two groups of four players each are formed. Each player then plays three matches against the other competitors.

Finally, the two best players in the group will reach the semi-finals. The finalists and then the winner will be determined. In addition to the prize money of more than $4,000,000, she can collect up to 1500 points.

At the Grand Slam tournaments there are again many parallels to men’s tennis. On the one hand, both the ladies and the men start the tournament at the same time. This applies to all four Grand Slam tournaments: Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.

The second common feature is that the ITF fills the main draw with 128 players. Accordingly, there are three rounds of qualifying for lower ranked players.

Another special feature is that both women and men receive the same number of points and the same prize money for victory. Specifically, this means 2000 points and $3,500,000.

The biggest tennis competition for national teams in women’s tennis is the Fed Cup. The current name is an abbreviation of the former “Federation Cup”. As with the Grand Slams, the ITF organises this complete tournament.

In general, the Fed Cup can be seen as a counterpart to the Davis Cup for men. In total, teams from 16 different nations compete against each other.

At the beginning in the Fed Cup there is a qualification where the number of teams is reduced to eight. In the preliminary round, these teams then fight for a place in the semi-finals and then for the final. The time span from qualification to the final is about three months.

Just as in the men’s singles, the ITF does not award any world ranking points for Fed Cup participations and wins.

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TOURNAMENT RESULTS

{{tournament.sponsortitle}}, player results, challenger tour: five to watch in 2023.

One of the intriguing elements of the ATP Challenger Tour is the chance to witness the game’s brightest young stars before they evolve into household names at the season’s most prestigious events.

Each week players work hard to secure points, prize money, and the chance to launch their career to new heights. In 2022, several youngsters made a sudden impact on the Challenger Tour and now they hold high hopes of furthering their careers this upcoming season.

ATPTour.com looks at five Challenger Tour players to keep an eye on in 2023, including Frenchman Luca Van Assche , who looks to build upon his late-season surge while Italy’s Francesco Passaro hopes to use the valuable Milan experience as a stepping stone in his career.

Luca Van Assche The 18-year-old, who won the 2021 Roland Garros boys' singles title, has won nine of his past 10 matches, including collecting his maiden Challenger title at the Maia Challenger. The Frenchman was also a finalist at the Lisbon, Brest, and Valencia Challengers.

Now at a career-high 137 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, Van Assche aims to continue his strong run to open the new season, including at the Canberra Challenger, where the teen will compete next week.

“My goal is to continue like how I ended the year, with a lot of confidence," Van Assche told ATPTour.com. "I’m just working hard every day and my goal is to be in the Top 100 as soon as possible.”

Francesco Passaro Following the Italian’s standout year, which earned him a spot at the Next Gen ATP Finals, Passaro is closing in on making his Top 100 debut. A five-time Challenger finalist in 2022, Passaro earned his maiden title at the Trieste Challenger, where he rallied from a set down to defeat Zhang Zhizhen in the championship match.

Passaro was one of seven Italian #NextGenATP Challenger champions this past season. The Perugia native joined countrymen Matteo Arnaldi , Mattia Bellucci , Flavio Cobolli , Francesco Maestrelli , Lorenzo Musetti , and Luca Nardi .

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Juncheng Shang At the Lexington Challenger, the Chinese teen became the youngest (17 years, 6 months) player to win a Challenger title since Carlos Alcaraz at Alicante in 2020 and the youngest Chinese champion in Challenger Tour history.

After a runner-up finish in Granby and a semi-final appearance in Las Vegas, the lefty cracked the Top 200 for the first time. The Beijing native, who became the first player born in 2005 to win a Challenger title, now sets his sights on a strong year with hopes of qualifying for the Next Gen ATP Finals.

Gabriel Diallo Earlier this month, the 6’7” youngster announced he will forego his senior season at the University of Kentucky and turn professional. The Canadian had already seen his game translate well to the Challenger Tour. Now tennis will be his full-time job.

In August, only one week after claiming his first Challenger main-draw win in Vancouver, Diallo was lifting his maiden Challenger trophy. The Montreal native was unfased as he won on home soil in Granby and the following month finished runner-up at the Fairfield Challenger (l. Mmoh). The 21-year-old enters the new year as 227 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

Timofey Skatov At the Challenger 125 event in Parma, Italy, Skatov became the only Kazakh Challenger champion of the year. The World No. 142 defeated Jozek Kovalik, who was on a nine-match winning streak, in the final.

Skatov, 21, plays his best tennis on clay, where he reached six Challenger semi-finals in 2022: Coquimbo, Lisbon, Braga, Seville, Roseto Degli Abruzzi-2, and Parma. Across four tournaments in September and October, the Kazakh won 14 of 16 matches and earned the highest-ranked win of his career, then-No. 71 Federico Coria , at the Coquimbo Challenger.

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The ATP Challenger Tour: Path to the Big Time

• Last updated on May 2, 2023

Established in 1978, the Challenger circuit has grown into an important stepping stone for young tennis players looking to make it to the highest levels of the sport. 

History of the Challenger Tour

The Challenger circuit was established as a way to provide a professional level of competition for tennis players who weren’t yet ready to compete on the main tour. The circuit initially consisted of just five tournaments in the United States, but quickly grew in popularity and spread around the world.

By the mid-1980s, the Challengers had become an important part of the tennis landscape, with dozens of tournaments held each year. In 1986, the ATP officially recognized the circuit and began awarding ranking points to players based on their performances.

Since then, the circuit has continued to grow in popularity and importance, with the number of tournaments held annually growing steadily year by year. In 2008 there were 178 events played across 40 different countries. 

And although numbers have occasionally diminished, for example in the first quarter of 2013 and an inevitable dip due to Covid-19, they’ve since bounced back with 184 events taking place in 2022 and a record 190 plus planned for 2023.

Format of the Challenger Circuit

Challenger tournaments are generally smaller than those on the ATP World Tour, with most events featuring a draw of 32 or 64 players.

The format of the tournaments is similar to that of other professional tennis events, with players competing in singles and doubles matches. The matches are generally played over three sets, although some tournaments may have different rules depending on the surface and location of the event.

The winner of a Challenger event typically earns around 80 ranking points and a prize purse of between $50,000 and $125,000. By contrast, the winner of an ATP Tour event can earn upwards of 1,000 ranking points and a prize purse of more than $1 million.

However in 2023 the ATP launched a new tier of Challengers known as Challenger 175s in which, as the name suggests, the winner can earn 175 points along with prize money of $220,000. 

Importance of the ATP Challenger Circuit

For young, ambitious players, the Challenger circuit is vital. It provides an opportunity to gain valuable experience playing against other pros, while also earning vital ranking points and prize money.

Many of the world’s top players have competed in Challenger events at some point in their careers. Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray all spent time on the Challenger circuit before making it to the main tour. In fact, Nadal won his first professional title at a Challenger event in 2002, Djokovic in 2004.

The circuit is also an important way for players to gain exposure and build their profiles in the tennis world. While it may not have the same level of media coverage as the ATP Tour, it provides a platform for players to showcase their talents and gain recognition from fans and sponsors.

In addition to helping young players make their way up the rankings, the Challenger circuit also plays an important role in the overall development of the sport. By providing a professional level of competition for players who are not yet ready for the ATP Tour, the circuit helps to ensure a strong pipeline of talent coming up through the ranks.

Challenger Challenges

Despite its importance, the circuit faces numerous challenges in the modern era. One of the biggest is the high cost of hosting events, which can run up to $200,000 when accounting for prize money, player accommodations, and other expenses. With smaller prize pools and less visibility than ATP Tour events, hosting organizations may struggle to justify the expense of hosting a Challenger tournament.

Another issue is the emergence of alternative tours and circuits, such as the ITF World Tennis Tour and the PTPA Challenger-style circuit. These tours provide players with additional options for competing at the professional level, which may lead some players to prioritize these events over Challenger tournaments.

The Challenger Circuit has been criticized for being financially unsustainable for players who are not in the top 100. The prize money on offer at Challenger tournaments is significantly less than that on the ATP Tour, and the costs associated with travelling to tournaments and paying for accommodation can make it difficult for players to make a living on the Challenger Circuit.

Rising to the Challenge

If you get the opportunity, the Challenger circuit is a great way to get to see up and coming stars before they hit the big time – and the occasional wizened pro. Keep an eye out right here for info on individual tournaments and if you’re looking to start your own path to the Challengers check out our round up of the best tennis rackets for beginners .

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2024 French Open semifinal odds, Roland Garros props: Alcaraz vs. Sinner prop picks, bets from tennis expert

Sportsline tennis expert blake von hagen has locked in his 2024 french open prop bets for the jannik sinner vs. carlos alcaraz match on friday.

No. 2 seed Jannik Sinner and No. 3 seed Carlos Alcaraz will both be looking to continue their quest for a maiden French Open title when they square off in the semifinals on Friday at Roland Garros. Sinner, who is set to become the World No. 1 following the conclusion of the tournament, is coming off a 3-0 win over Grigor Dimitrov in the quarterfinals. Alcaraz has won his last three matches in straight sets, including a decisive victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas on Tuesday. The Spaniard holds a 5-4 edge in the head-to-head series, but this is their first meeting on clay since 2022. 

Friday's Alcaraz vs. Sinner showdown is set to start at 8:30 a.m. ET on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Alcaraz is the -170 favorite (risk $170 to win $100) in the latest Sinner vs. Alcaraz odds, while Sinner is a +140 underdog. The over/under for total games is 38.5, with Alcaraz favored by 2.5 games (-120). Before you make any Alcaraz vs. Sinner picks or 2024 French Open predictions,  you need to see what tennis expert Blake Von Hagen has to say .

Von Hagen has followed tennis closely for years, keeping an eye on young players before they turn into stars. His dedication to the sport allows him to find value on the Challenger Tour and the ATP Tour alike. 

Von Hagen routinely attends ATP events, including at the Challenger level. He keeps up with injuries, recent form, and line movement to identify the best bets of the day. His research allowed him to nail Carlos Alcaraz as a 22-1 longshot to win the 2022 US Open, jumping on board before the market adjusted. He went 20-9 (+11.4u) in the 2024 Rome Masters 1000 earlier this month, nailing three first-round upsets and returning more than $1,100 for $100 bettors in that tournament.

For Friday, Von Hagen has scrutinized the latest 2024 French Open odds and released his coveted top prop bets for the Sinner vs. Alcaraz match. He's sharing his picks and expert analysis only at SportsLine.  See what they are at SportsLine .

2024 French Open semifinal Alcaraz vs. Sinner expert picks

One of Von Hagen's top Sinner vs. Alcaraz bets: He is backing Alcaraz to win at least one point in every game of the first set in a prop bet that pays -120. Alcaraz has only dropped one set all tournament and has been competitive in almost every game. He has won at least one point in every game in 14 of the 16 sets that he has played, including all five opening sets. 

The Spaniard won at least one point in every game in all six of the opening sets he played during his run to the semifinals in last year's French Open. He feeds off the energy of the crowd and always puts his best foot forward, making him a reliable player in this type of prop. The 21-year-old has cashed this prop in 11 consecutive first sets at the French Open, creating value at a cheap price on Friday.   See the other props to back at SportsLine .

How to make 2024 French Open picks

Von Hagen has locked in more props for the Sinner vs. Alcaraz match and has identified a longshot prop bet. That prop pays 5-1, so anyone who backs it could hit big. You need to see his prop picks and analysis before considering any 2024 French Open bets .

So who wins Alcaraz vs. Sinner, and what are the prop picks that could lead to big returns? Check out Blake Von Hagen's analysis for the 2024 French Open semifinals, all from the tennis expert who went 20-9 for more than 11 units of profit in the Rome Masters 1000 .

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French open semifinal predictions: coco gauff vs iga swiatek.

• June 4, 2024

Yesh Ginsburg

We are all set for a blockbuster semifinal match at the French Open as World #1 Iga Swiatek takes on World #3 Coco Gauff. Can the American phenom take out the prohibitive favorite ? Our writers share their thoughts on the match. Predicting this match are Manuel Traquete, Jordan Reynolds, Damian Kust, Nurein Ahmed, and Jack Edward. What do you think will happen? (Update: With the other semifinal now set between Mirra Andreeva and Jasmine Paolini, we now have an article with predictions for that match as well.)

French Open Semifinal Predictions

Coco gauff vs iga swiatek.

Manuel: After a massive scare against Naomi Osaka in the second round, Iga Swiatek has been her usual dominant self, barely losing any games as she crushes every opponent who comes her way. This is a rematch of the 2022 final of this tournament and the result isn’t expected to be much different, especially since Gauff hasn’t been particularly impressive so far this tournament. Prediction: Swiatek in 2

Jordan: Swiatek has only lost one match in 11 against Gauff and that was on a hard court. Those are the tough odds Gauff must overcome. There were at least some positive signs for the American in Rome. Despite losing in straight sets, the match was very competitive and Gauff could have won both sets if her serve didn’t let her down in key moments. The American’s forehand in particular was much improved against the world No.1 in that match. I will still back Swiatek overall, but this could be closer than many expect. Prediction: Swiatek in 3

Damian: Swiatek eliminated Gauff from the last two editions of this event and it won’t be easy for the American to avoid that fate this time as well. It’s always been a brutal matchup, especially when they’re facing each other in conditions that suit the game of the World No. 1. To Gauff’s credit it seems like she always believes she can win against Swiatek and often brings something new to the rivalry, their Rome match was so close until she gave away the 4-4 break. Beating the Pole in Paris likely way too much of an ask, maybe she can push her for a bit though. Prediction: Swiatek in 2

Nurein: On paper, Iga Swiatek should be winning this match at a canter. In fact, that’s precisely what she’s done all tournament, bar the match against Naomi Osaka . Coco Gauff has more than steadied the ship and is in great form. Gauff is an elite athlete; let’s get that right. However, I think this match won’t come down to the level of talent. Instead, it will be Gauff fighting a mental battle as she has done in recent matches against Swiatek. Given that wretched head-to-head record, it’s slim pickings for the American in this one, and the top seed should safely qualify for the final. Prediction: Swiatek in 2

Jack: It hasn’t been a kind match-up for Gauff. Her patient style and booming serve are both negated by the burly groundstrokes and phenomenal return abilities of the world #1. Even if the American is playing well, Swiatek’s shown she’s playing better this tournament. Prediction: Swiatek in 2

Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports

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