OLYMPIC GAMES | TENNIS
How much money does Djokovic and Alcaraz win for Olympics tennis gold and silver medals in Paris 2024?
The top two seeds could hardly be separated in the Olympics tennis final, but gold went to the Serbia legend.
The Olympic Games have always been a prestigious platform for athletes across various sports to show what they can offer following years of dedication. Tennis, being a high-profile sport in itself, attracts significant attention, especially when legends like Novak Djokovic and rising stars like Carlos Alcaraz compete in the showpiece final.
How did Djokovic beat Alcaraz at Olympics?
Djokovic, regarded as one of, if not the greatest tennis players of all time, secured the gold medal in Paris, and it wasn’t just another addition to his illustrious career but also a historical achievement. The Serbian won the gold without losing a single set throughout the tournament, making him the first tennis player to achieve this feat at the Olympics.
Alcaraz, the Spaniard seen as the successor to the tennis crown, pushed him all the way. Despite the 2-0 win, each set went to 6-6 in games, a tie break needed to decide between them. The 21-year old still went away with the silver medal in his Olympic debut. But neither earn ‘winnings’ directly from the tournament.
Prize money in Olympics tennis
Unlike the Grand Slam tournaments, where prize money can be substantial, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) does not directly award monetary prizes to medalists. Instead, it is the responsibility of each country’s Olympic committee to reward their athletes.
For Spanish athletes, the rewards for winning Olympic medals are gold €94,000 (c. $102,460), silver €48,000 (c. $52,320), bronze €30,000 (c. $32,700).
Therefore, Alcaraz will receive approximately $52,320 for his silver medal. This amount, while significant, pales in comparison to the prize money he earned from recent Grand Slam victories. For instance, Alcaraz won $2.2 million for his victory at the same Roland Garros and over $3 million for his triumph at Wimbledon. But it’s the Olympics!
While Djokovic is certainly not struggling for funds given his career, Serbia’s committee offers $218,000 and a national pension for its Olympic champions. Adding the gold medal before his time at the top comes to an end is clearly all that really mattered to him.
How do other countries compare for Olympics prize money?
Hong Kong leads the way on higher rewards, with $768,000 for a gold medal. Fourteen other national committees offer six-figure sums to their Olympic champions. The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) provides the following rewards to its athletes: $37,500, $22,500 and $15,000 for the three medals, respectively.