Grand Slam Champion: 'Tennis Is Not a Sport for the Poor'

17/10/2025 15:31:00 sport

The player who once reached world No. 3 and won the US Open shared candid insights about the financial side of professional tennis.

In a conversation on a podcast Jot Down Sport, 2025 US Open champion Dominic Thiem stated that tennis is no longer an easily accessible sport. The Austrian, who climbed to world No. 3 and claimed 17 ATP titles, admitted that from a young age he was luckier than many friends because both his parents were coaches.

Thiem began playing tennis at age six with his father Wolfgang, later training at Gunter Bresnik’s academy – who eventually became his professional coach. This allowed him to develop in a structured environment without worrying about expenses.

However, according to Thiem, if an ordinary child wants to pursue this path, the family must be prepared to spend a massive amount of money.

"From ages 13 to 18, you need to spend around 80,000 to 100,000 euros annually. In total, nearly 1 million euros – a sum most families cannot afford.", he explained.

Nhà vô địch Grand Slam: 'Tennis không dành cho người nghèo'-723795 — Dominic Thiem has achieved significant success throughout his career.

Since retiring last year, Dominic Thiem has shifted his focus to coaching. In July, he opened his own tennis academy in Burgenland with the goal of making tennis more accessible to Austria’s younger generation.

Still, the 32-year-old former player believes that costs for training, travel, and hiring a support team make tennis difficult to become a mass-participation sport.

"Even at the professional level, earnings are not as straightforward as people assume. For example, a first-round Wimbledon prize is £65,000, but over 60% goes to taxes and team expenses.", Thiem clarified.

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