Former world No. 9 Andrea Petkovic has highlighted an often-overlooked consequence of the increase in prize money in both the men`s and women`s tennis tours.
Petkovic explained that while higher prize money has its advantages, it also has a negative side. She recalled the early days of her career when players frequently shared coaches, traveled together in groups, and even shared hotel rooms (sometimes with three people) to save money. These shared experiences, including jokingly taking ham and cheese from breakfast buffets, often led to the formation of lifelong friendships. However, she observed that the trend towards players having much larger support teams – including physios, multiple coaches, psychologists, and fitness trainers – has paradoxically led to increased loneliness on tour.
She stressed a critical point: the people players pay for their services are not their friends. Petkovic reiterated this, explaining that while a friendly relationship might develop, the dynamic is fundamentally different due to the financial transaction and power imbalance. This prevents a truly equal and authentic friendship. She noted that these paid staff members surround players, effectively substituting for potential genuine friendships – relationships where a friend wouldn`t need to worry about losing their job for simply being honest, for instance, by commenting critically on a player`s attire.
