photo credit: toga
I’m a big tennis fan and love the sport for many reasons, including the fact that I enjoy the workout it provides and that it’s cheap to play. More on the cheap part later, as I have an entire post dedicated to tennis as a frugal or cheap sport. If you’re watching the 2008 US Open Tennis tournament you’re already enjoying some of the best hard court tennis players in the world, men and women.
The best part about the tournament, is watching men and women battle it out in the New York humidity and trying to stay calm and focused. Seeing Andy Roddick blast a 140 mph serve is amazing, and as impressive is watching Venus William serve one up at 125 mph. I’ve never clocked my serve, but I imagine it’s probably in the 65mph range.
Serena and Venus Williams will have to face one another in the quarter finals in this years Open and cause a family member to lose out on the chance for $1.5 million. If they had met in the final, the runner up would have received $750,000. Now the loser of the quarterfinal match will walk away with $150,000. Not bad for a few days work! Amazing that one family has two top tennis players and are worth millions of dollars. The only family I recall both playing tennis were John and Patrick McEnroe. John obviously won many tournaments and Grand Slam titles, but Patrick’s tennis career was not as stellar.
Aside from the fact that I get to watch the best hard court tennis action of the year, watching players compete for $1.5 million dollars is really fun. Did you know that men and women have received the same prize money at the US Open for the last 36 years? This year the prize has increased 7%. Did you receive a 7% pay raise this year? Equal pay, for equal work. Wow $1.5 million dollars for two weeks worth of work. Just think what this could do for an unseeded players career. What did the players receive if they lost in the first round of the tournament? How about a cool $18,500 just for showing up. Not bad at all for a days work. If you want to see more about the prize money for all players, visit the US Open website here.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Every time I read something like this I secretly wish that my parents had pulled me out of school in Grade 5 and enrolled me in a full time sports camp of some sort. I think that’s the plan for my kids…
It also makes me wonder if there are any pro sports that I (at 28) could take up and make it big in. I’m obviously well past the prime for hockey, football, baseball, basketball… what is the average age for tennis players? I’m guessing I’m too late on that one, too. The best possibility I have been able to come up with is some sort of autosport (F1, Nascar) where my old age wouldn’t be too much of a disadvantage.
Until MarioKart becomes a professional sport, I guess it’s back to work for me.
@ Money Grubbing Lawyer
I think a lot of parents are tempted to live vicariously through children and are tempted to create the next Tiger Woods, Andre Agassi or Williams sisters. You could start practicing golf and then in 30 years you could try out for the seniors PGA tour. I’ve also read about guys playing in video game competitions and I think the prize money was around $50k. Not bad for playing games.
$1.5 million is just a drop in the bucket when you throw in all their endorsement deals as well. Maria’s got to be making a killing off of her Canon ads…
I too love playing tennis, in part because of the frugal aspect. I invested in a $100 or so Head racket about 3-4 years ago, and other than that and occasionally buying balls (usually find some decent ones), it’s been a really cheap way to have fun and get a good workout.