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Dominic Thiem Dives Into the Concept of Prize Money in Tennis

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Fahad Hamid | Last updated Oct 14, 2025 7:28 PM ET

Dominic Thiem, former world No. 3 and 2020 US Open champion, has spoken openly about the financial challenges within professional tennis. In an interview on the Spanish podcast Jot Down Sport, Thiem described how the sport can be financially out of reach for many young players. His comments have reignited discussion about the economic barriers in tennis.

Thiem’s perspective comes from experience. During his rise to the top, he witnessed how difficult it is for aspiring players to afford the costs of training, travel, and competition. According to him, talent alone is not enough to succeed in such an expensive sport. Thiem said in the podcast translated by L’Equipe:

When I started climbing in the rankings, I was not interested in money or understanding how it worked, I just wanted financial stability throughout my career. The first round of Wimbledon gives you £65,000, but you lose more than 60%. First, you have to deduct the taxes from the country where you play, which are subtracted from the cash prize, then the taxes of your own country, and finally, the expenses related to your team. When you are among the top three or five players, you earn significant profits and receive excellent offers, but if you drop in the rankings, you can suffer considerable financial losses.

Young players often depend on large financial investments, parental sacrifices, or help from sponsors and foundations. Some even turn to private investors who fund their careers in exchange for a share of future earnings. While this can open doors, it also poses long-term financial risks.

Thiem believes this system makes tennis elitist from the start. Only those with financial backing can afford to pursue the sport seriously. Even after reaching the professional level, players face constant expenses and uncertainty, proving that financial struggles don’t end once they make it onto the main tour.

Dominic Thiem’s career by the numbers

Former World No.3 Dominic Thiem ended his career last year in Vienna. He marked an emotional farewell in front of his home fans.

Thiem’s career is filled with remarkable achievements. He became a Grand Slam champion at the 2020 US Open after an incredible comeback victory over Alexander Zverev, becoming the first man in the Open Era to win the title from two sets down. He was also the first player born in the 1990s to win a major and the last to do so with a one-handed backhand.

Between 2019 and 2020, Thiem was one of the few players to consistently challenge the Big Three—Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic—holding a 9–3 record against them in that period. Overall, he won 17 career titles, including the 2019 Indian Wells Masters and five ATP 500 tournaments. He also reached three additional Grand Slam finals and achieved a career-high ranking of world No. 3 in 2020.

In total, Thiem earned over $30 million in prize money and recorded 32 wins over Top 10 players, including five victories against world No. 1s. His rise was halted by a serious wrist injury in 2021, which kept him off the tour for months. Although he never fully returned to his peak form, Thiem remains one of tennis’s most admired figures—a champion remembered for his power, precision, and humility both on and off the court.

Six Kings Slam 2025: The Prize Money

The Six Kings Slam will return for its second edition in 2025, taking place once again in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event brings together six of the world’s best male tennis players for a unique exhibition-style tournament showcasing elite talent and competition.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner will return to Saudi Arabia, this time as the reigning Wimbledon winner. Joining him will be current World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, who enters the event in top form for the first time in his career.

The star-studded lineup also includes Taylor Fritz, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas , and Novak Djokovic—rounding out the six elite competitors. The event will span four days, with matches scheduled for October 15, 16, and 18, and a rest day on October 17 in accordance with ATP regulations.

This year’s Six Kings Slam boasts a massive prize pool of $13.5 million. Each participant will receive $1.5 million for competing, while the tournament champion will earn an additional $4.5 million—bringing the total winner’s payout to an impressive $6 million.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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