Players vs. Grand Slams: Do top 10 stars make sense?

All four major leagues have made huge investments in their stadiums and facilities in recent years.

Each has at least two retractable roof courts, and the Australian Open added a third court when Margaret Court Arena was renovated in 2015.

Guaranteed play leads to an increase in TV rights deals, which goes into players’ pockets.

Part of AELTC’s current nine-figure renovation of the Millennium Building includes a major upgrade to the players’ gyms, recovery areas, lounges and restaurants. There will be a roof terrace and an upstairs garden when completed in 2027.

The USTA is currently building a $250 million (£189.7 million) player performance center at Flushing Meadows with expanded warm-up areas, locker rooms and dining facilities.

On an annual basis, players competing in the qualifiers or main draw receive additional bonuses from the four major tournaments. At the Australian Open this month, players will receive a daily allowance of A$350 (£174.35) per day – which covers the cost of a hotel room – an on-site meal allowance of A$100 (£49.81) per day and five free racket strings for each round they play.

Tennis Australia also offers a travel grant, which this year has been increased by 67% to AU$10,000 (£4,981.30), while medical and laundry services are provided as well as tickets and gifts at all venues.

The major leagues also invest heavily in warm-up tournaments, which often lose money. For example, the AELTC says it has spent more than £60 million supporting grass court events since 2019.

In addition to investing the proceeds into performance and grassroots tennis in their countries, each Grand Slam contributes $750,000 (£572,302) annually to the Grand Slam Player Development Programme.

Major winners Elena Rybakina, Li Na and Gustavo Kuerten are among those who have benefited from the fund, which aims to help players from developing tennis countries on the path to the professional ranks.

At the other end of the scale, top players can broker lucrative sponsorship deals on the back of their success.

For example, Sinner, Gauff, Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek are all Rolex ambassadors and benefit from the watchmaker’s long association with the Grand Slam tournaments, which in Wimbledon’s case dates back nearly half a century.