The American tennis star Andy Roddick applauded the French Open organisers after they announced a massive 12.3 percent increase in prize money on Friday (May 12).
The total prize money assigned to the tournament is a record €49.6 million or about $54 million. An increase of over 12% compared to last year.
Most of the increase will come in the money allotted to players in the earlier rounds, with qualifiers and first-round losers pocketing significantly higher than they would have in 2022.
The former World number one believes that the benefits of increased reward money at Roland Garros was a welcome news, especially for players in the 90-105 ranking range.
Praising the organisers for the decision, the 40-year-old stated that he was "happy" to see such improvements in the sport.
"This is great news. You know, listen, it’s tough being in the 90-105 range on tour. And since the Challengers don’t offer much prize money, you have to motivate that level with a break in the top 104. And this is the payoff for being successful in those Challengers. So, props to Roland Garros, and happy to see it,” Roddick said in an interview.
Earlier, Novak Djokovic said that Carlos Alcaraz is the man to beat on clay while also calling the latter a hot favourite for the upcoming French Open.
Alcaraz has won back-to-back tournaments in Barcelona and Madrid this year and became the world number one with a 6-4, 6-1 win over his fellow countrymen Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the ongoing Italian Open.
While talking about the favourites for the tournament, Djokovic wasn’t shy to mention his rival Nadal, who is unstoppable at Clay, but he couldn’t stop himself from calling Alcaraz one of the top contenders for the tournament as the youngster is in red-hot form.
“Of course, it depends on if Nadal is going to play in the French Open or not. But Alcaraz is one of the top favourites without any dilemma,” said the world number one.