‘It’s a failure’: Djokovic’s candid (and surprising) reflection after pocketing $3 million after winning the US Open

Novak Djokovic enjoys a few days of rest then fully concentrates on closing out the ATP tour season. He does this just after winning his 24th Grand Slam title after winning the US Open, which also saw him win three million dollars which was added to the Serbian’s millionaire account. .

This situation, however, is not common on the circuit, as was reflected a few days ago. the Indian Sumit Nagal (144th), 26 years old, who is among the 150 best in the world, recounted the economic difficulties he is going through in this process of climbing the rankings .

“I was in the place of all these tennis players who have great economic difficulties . I understand their struggle, I know the difficulties they will have to pay for travel, coaches, physiotherapists. If you don’t have the support of a strong federation, you will have big problems,” commented the current world number one.

“I’m from Serbia and I didn’t have any of that. Now that I have influence and power, I want to use it to improve conditions . We usually talk a lot about how much tennis players who competed in the US Open earn, but not about how many people can make a living from tennis; men, women, doubles players…” Nole continued.

“There are around 400 tennis players who can make a living from tennis, which is a very low number for a sport as global as ours. It’s a failure for tennis » Novak Djokovic concluded.

A few days ago, the Indian Sumit Nagal recounted his situation within the ATP in an interview with the Times of India. “If I look at my bank balance, I have what I had at the start of the year, around 900 euros . I received help. They helped me through a tennis foundation and I also get a monthly salary from IOCL (fuel company), but I don’t have any big sponsors,” he explained.

“I invest everything I earn. I only travel with a trainer, without a physiotherapist, and I have already invested everything I earned. I feel like I lack support even though I have been the best Indian tennis player for years. . “I am the only player qualified for the Grand Slam, the only one to have won a match at the Olympic Games,” he continued.

Additionally, he shared, “I feel like when my ranking went down, no one wanted to help me, no one believed I would come back. It was disappointing because I feel like no matter what I do, it’s never enough. It is very difficult to find financial support in India. Honestly, I don’t even know what to do, I gave up. “, he admitted, showing signs of despair.

“The rehabilitation took me 6 months, then the return, another six months. I would say it took me a year and a half to feel good. I lost matches that I should have won. I got COVID twice last season, so it’s been a long two years. I don’t have any savings, I can’t say I live a good life. At least I’m not negative. I’m not saying I want to go to 5 star hotels or anything like that. We lack funds, a system. China has money and we have the same potential as China “, he concluded in the interview.