“He made sure even lower-ranked players can make a living”: Federico Coria credits Djokovic for better prize money distribution

Federico Coria spoke bluntly about the economic reality of the ATP circuit and highlighted the impact of Novak Djokovic beyond titles. In a recent chat, the Argentine emphasized the key role that the 24‑time Grand Slam champion has had in the fight for the economic rights of players, especially for those who do not permanently inhabit the top of the rankings.

The Argentine tennis player finished five consecutive seasons inside the top 100, although he maintained most of his career playing Challenger tournaments and without making big campaigns in major events. Without the renown of other players, Coria managed to reach a career‑high of World No. 49 in 2023 and to contest two ATP 250 finals. In addition, he is champion of six Challenger titles.

In a recent interview, the younger brother of Guillermo Coria (a former World No. 3) referred to how long a player needs to secure their financial future and emphasized the Serb’s role in the fight for players’ rights and better incomes.

Federico Coria is one of the most consistent Argentine players of recent years on the ATP Tour, with several seasons competing in ATP and Challenger tournaments, regularly moving around the top 100. Coria achieved up to 18 main draw appearances in Grand Slams, securing a total of 5 wins, including a run to the third round of Roland Garros 2020 – where he was defeated by Jannik Sinner.

A widely debated topic is the distribution of prize money among players outside the top 10, and the Argentine explained in a recent appearance on the Laca Stream podcast about “how many years a player must remain inside the top 100 to live with peace of mind,” to which the Argentine said: “Four or five years in the top 100.”

The South American acknowledged the importance of Novak Djokovic so that players who are not leading the most important tournaments can also make a living from professional tennis. “When I read some criticism, I go crazy, because the guy, fighting to be the greatest of all time, also fought for the rights of the players and so that more and more people earn more money,” he stated.

Coria also revealed that many of those discussions took place away from the public eye. “We had a group of players sending huge chats and arguing so that we earn more cash,” he explained, referring especially to the distribution of prize money. “What a Grand Slam generates is that players are paid 17%. It is the sport that distributes the least to the players,” he upheld, clarifying that this percentage is shared among “men, women, doubles, all disciplines.”

In that context, Coria highlighted Djokovic’s constant stance. “He was always there, at the forefront,” he noted, before referring to the PTPA, the association promoted by the Serb as an alternative to the ATP. “He wanted to create something apart from the ATP, an association that fights for the rights of the players.”

Although Djokovic has recently stepped away from the PTPA, Coria believes that his influence was decisive: “Even with his pressure he made things improve a lot more. For me, thanks to his pressure,” he concluded.

In the days leading up to the Australian Open, Djokovic released a statement on social media in which he announced his departure from the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), the organization he had co‑founded years earlier alongside Vasek Pospisil with the goal of offering independent representation to professional players.

Djokovic explained that his departure was not related to a change in stance about the need to defend players’ rights, but rather with internal disagreements about the direction of the association. In his statement, the Serb was clear: “This decision comes after ongoing concerns regarding transparency, governance, and the way my voice and image have been represented.”

The PTPA was born as an alternative to the ATP, seeking greater equity in the distribution of earnings, more transparency, and a stronger collective voice for players, especially those outside the top 10. Although Djokovic formally stepped away from the structure, his influence was key to establishing debates that remain relevant within the circuit today.