Tennis News: Simona Halep, ATP Finals money, Rolex Paris Masters notes

After receiving a four-year ban for breaking anti-doping rules, Simona Halep has now submitted an appeal to the very wordily titled Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). There is no time frame for when her appeal might be heard, however. A panel of independent arbitrators will hear her appeal and make a ruling.

The evidence the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) used in handing Simona Halep the suspension in September was the “…presence and use of roxadustat as evidenced in Halep’s urine sample collected on 29 August 2022 at the US Open” along with the “use of a prohibited substance or method during 2022, based on collection and analysis of 51 blood samples provided by the player as part of the ABP (Athlete Biological Passport) programme.”

The ITIA had like a War and Peace-length book of evidence against Halep before ruling. Part of the issue with the process of handing down the suspension was that the ITIA took so long – a full year – to make a decision. A common complaint from players is that whether they are banned or not they aren’t able to play during the review of evidence. Had Halep not been found guilty, she still wouldn’t have been able to play for a year and that is potentially a lot of money.

Simona Halep appeals and ATP Finals will make you richer

As far as the ATP Finals go, the players could potentially make a lot of money by doing well. In 2022, Novak Djokovic won the ATP Finals, was undefeated in the tournament, and won $4,740,300. If he does the same in 2023, he (or anyone else who goes undefeated in the ATP Finals) will make even more money. An undefeated winner would get $4,801,500 which would be the biggest single pay day in the history of tennis.

The total prize money is up to $15 million. If the winner loses only one match he will receive $4,411,500 or if they lose two matches, they will make $4,021,500. If a player is unbeaten until the finals and loses, they still get $2,600,500.

In other words, a relatively successful run at the ATP Finals is going to make a player even richer. Good for them.

Rolex Paris Masters need to know

Most likely the most important tournament left before the ATP Finals is the Rolex Paris Masters. The tournament will be held from October 30 through November 5 in Madrid. (Joking! Clearly, the tournament will be held in Paris.) The tournament is played indoors and is an ATP Masters 1000 tournament so if Carlos Alcaraz, for instance, wins the tourney, he will close the gap between him and Novak Djokovic for the race to year-end No. 1.

The winner of the Rolex Paris Masters will make 836,355 euros, but it’s the points that are most important for a player going into the ATP Finals. The draw for the tournament will take place on October 30 and play will begin soon thereafter.