The prize money is $3.8 million. There are eight invitations. This is the venue…the Shanghai arena. The housing for a global TV network that looks more like a Steven Spielberg movie. Or the spokes on the crown of the Statue of Liberty, squared off in communist style? According to its Japanese architect Mitsuru Senda it is in fact a magnolia which takes eight minutes to open - Shanghai’s mascot flower.
There is not much money at the bottom of tennis, but at this elite level the players have become masters of their financial universe. And for once a Brit could come out on top. Andy Murray, after more than a decade of scrubbing along from tournament to tournament, finds himself realistically elevated into the rich court of king tennis. Arise, young Scot you are now a rich man. You may become richer. You will become richer.
The money that washes through modern tennis is as unfairly distributed as a feudal fiefdom. The few at the very peak of the game, say the top 20, are rewarded beyond the realms of reason, even beyond the realms that other sportsmen in other fields can aspire, even Premier League footballers. Even Hollywood actors who at least have the vindication of genuine global audiences. Beyond the prize money is the endorsement and the appearance money and the brand representation and even a self standing clothes or sports brand.
Reality and tennis have almost seperated. It lives in a virtual world of virtual TV audiences in virtual satellite minority stations pumped full of brand advertising. There are 20 media stations built into the stadium but how big are these audiences? Tiny compared to other sports, and yet tennis has ingratiated itself as a means of filling prime time TV cheaply.
When Murray and the other players step off the plain as supreme global athletes what would the ordinary Chinaman in the street make of these aliens from another culture, another world. In China tennis is not even a major sport compared to the egalitarian table tennis. Eight men, hardly even that really, just big teenagers, twenty-one-somethings, probably all white, probably all taller than usual to compete for millions in a country where the average wage is £40 a week. And they might wonder after all the fuss of the Olympics why are they doing it again? Why are these young children being feted like old style Tibetan gods? They worship a racket and ball?
Tickets were £24 each so even if it is a full house (as presumably the Chinese will ensure) it could be said to break even as an event itself, just. There are 15,000 centre court seats, viewing from a gallery for another 12,000 and space for 3,000 VIPs in deluxe skyboxes.
CLEAN shaven and ecstatic Andy Murray hits the ball into the crowd after his victory over Rafael Nadal in the final of the invitation Abu Dahbi and banked another £172,000 over and above his appearance fee with a 6-4, 7-7, 6-3 victory. The event is not listed on the calendar and officially is an exhbition event where players practice areas of their game which they might not risk in competitive grand slams, but even so victories over the world’s number one and two is a clear statement as they move on to Doha, Qatar, where more fancy prize money has lured the three men again, and where Murray won last year. Both Roger Federer and Nadal missed out in the Australian Open last year to Novak Djokovic and an on fire Frenchman Jo-Wildred Tsonga…but things are looking a different kettle of fish this year. Let battle commence
