John Isner reacts to Miami prize money cut: “ATP is a broken system”

John Isner has taken to Twitter to air his thoughts on the state of the ATP Tour with regard to prize money allocation. The 35-year-old American, a former world No 8 and 15-time titlist on tour, called the ATP a “broken system”. 

Also read: Miami Open prize money slashed 

ATP is a broken system. Players and tournaments as ‘partners’ need to work together, but 60% cut and 80% champions cut in one of our biggest events that has TV, Data, sponsorship, and newly approved gambling revenue intact, isn’t a partnership at all. 1/5 https://t.co/MmrZjCtpOW

— John Isner (@JohnIsner) February 24, 2021

“ATP is a broken system,” Isner wrote on Twitter. “Players and tournaments as ‘partners’ need to work together, but 60 percent cut and 80 percent champions’ cut in one of our biggest events that has TV, Data, sponsorship, and newly approved gambling revenue intact, isn’t a partnership at all.” 

Isner is responding to the Miami Open’s plans to cut pay by more than 50 percent for this year’s event, due to the fact that the event will operate at approximately 20 percent of its normal spectator capacity. According to reports, the level of prize money could change if more spectators than the estimated 20 percent are allowed to attend. 

Prize money breakdown for @MiamiOpen singles events:
•Winners: $300,110
•Runners-up: $165,000
•Semi-finalists: $93,000
•Quarter-finalists: $65,000
•Round 4: $40,000
•Round 3: $26,000
•Round 2: $16,000
•Round 1: $10,000

— Tennis Majors (@Tennis_Majors) February 23, 2021

Players seek a “true audit” of tournaments

Echoing the sentiments of many players over the last few years, Isner believes that the tournaments should be subject to an audit to reveal the true state of their finances. 

“How about a true audit to see how much tourneys are actually hurting and then a money formula after the event to reconcile?” Isner asked. “Amazing we still don’t have this in a lot of our big events. How does that make any sense?” 

Promoters own assets that appreciate and have infinite time to monetize that asset, whereas the players have a short amount of time to maximize our talents. That’s a broken system. 4/5

— John Isner (@JohnIsner) February 24, 2021

Isner believes that the true value of an asset, such as the Miami Open or any other tournament, goes beyond the actual revenue for a particular season. He and his peers want players to benefit from the long term success of the events, and not just the bottom-line revenue each season. 

“Tennis is plagued by conflict and lack of transparency,” he tweeted. “Promoters own assets that appreciate and have infinite time to monetize that asset, whereas the players have a short amount of time to maximize our talents. That’s a broken system. So players should take a 60 percent cut and 80 percent champions’ cut while ATP executives keep full salaries, benefits and expense accounts? Make that make sense. Seems just a little bit hypocritical, don’t ya think?”