The rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner has spilled over from the tennis court to the moral compass this week, as both weighed in with differing views on prize money in tennis.
Comments from the pair were sparked by the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh earlier in October, where the two played in the final and Sinner won a $6 million cheque for his victory.
When asked earlier this week about the record-breaking payout – which is almost twice the prize money of a Grand Slam champion – Sinner responded, saying he is not motivated by money.
“I don’t play for money, it’s very simple,” the Italian said.
“Of course, it’s a nice prize and everything but for me, I went there because there were possibly the six best players in the world and then you can measure yourself with them.
“The money is important but not that much. I live a good life also without this money. I think it’s much more important the health I have and surrounding myself with great people, the family… then the money is just an extra.”
"I don't play for money." ????
— Eurosport (@eurosport) October 27, 2024
Jannik Sinner reflects on receiving the biggest prize in tennis history at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh. ?#RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/daLllDeSZj
Soon after, Alcaraz was asked about the Saudi Arabian exhibition in the build-up to the Paris Masters, and gave a very different answer.
“If I say I went there just for fun or to play and forget the money, I’m gonna lie,” he said. “That’s obviously, I mean, every person works for that, as well. You know, that’s how life is about.
“You know, I love playing tennis. Most of the time I don’t think about the money. I just play for love or for fun. But you have to be realistic. You have to think that you want to earn money, you know, and that’s it. In (Saudi) Arabia is the most highest prize money ever in the history, so that was a good motivation, at least for me.”
Others have also weighed in online, with three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka re-tweeting a video of Sinner’s interview alongside a laughing emoji, which he has since deleted.
Paul Annacone, former coach of Roger Federer, came to the Italian’s defense, however.
“Look, it’s a big business,” said Annacone. “I don’t think he plays solely for money. Obviously, he has got a lot more integrity than that.
“But just like any other big business, there is a price for players to go to certain places at certain times of the year and sure it was the best players in the world and an opportunity to face them, but it was also an opportunity to make the right business decision for him.
“There’s nothing wrong with that. I don’t think he needs to defend playing for money or not.
“The way he said it sounds ironic. This is something we always talk about with the top players. There is a lot of money thrown around.”
So, was Sinner being disingenuous, or is he truly not motivated by money?
We find it hard to believe that the 23-year-old was being entirely truthful in this instance, simply because of what he’s shown us over the last few years.
Earlier in 2024, after Sinner won the Australian Open, he was asked about his relationship with money. His response is telling.
“Before buying something I always look at the price, always. If I go to a restaurant and the pasta with meat sauce costs much more than the one with tomato sauce, I take the one with tomato sauce. Not because I’m stingy, but because I respect money.”
It’s hard to imagine someone weighing up whether to pay a few Euro extra for pasta sauce, yet turning a blind eye to the largest prize money in tennis history.
