FORMER Davis Cup player Jamie Baker says recent increases in prize money on the tennis Tour would probably have persuaded him to extend his career.
The 28-year-old Scot retired in 2013 after a career hit by injuries and serious illness, citing the financial difficulties for players outside the top 100 as a major reason for his decision.
The ATP announced recently increases in prize money at all levels on the main Tour, while prize money and hospitality on both the Challenger Tour and the Futures Tour, the rungs below the main ATP Tour, is also set to rise significantly.
Baker, who reached a career-high ranking of 186, said had the increases happened a few years ago, he might still be playing.
"I think if I'd been able to genuinely be able to say I was making a profit on a yearly basis, and felt that my profession was worth some type of value and that I wasn't leaking money as I was doing it, then I think that might have kept me playing a bit longer, yes," Baker said.
"That was one of the main things that took the joy out of my profession, that very fact, and I just didn't feel like it was right."
Baker said the hardest thing for any aspiring player, who does not have the benefit of financial backing, is accommodation during events.
"If you actually got your accommodation paid for every single week, that would be massive," he said. "That's one of the biggest expenses."
Baker said the fact that the Tour is so dominated by demand for the top players, including Andy Murray, made it tough for enough players to make a living.
"There was a permanent frustration, even when I was playing, that such a global sport that was bringing in so much money wasn't able to financially support more than 100-odd people to genuinely say this is my profession," he said. "That's the real failing on various organisations in the sport.
"The one thing I will say is that the increase in prize money in grand slams, first round prize money, and particularly the prize money in qualifying, that definitely does reach a few more people now. So that's good.
"So if you're ranked 180 and even if you get into the main draw of two grand slam and get to the last round of qualies in the two others, you could have about 80-odd grand before you've started, from just four tournaments. Your expenses (for the year) are massive but that's a decent start."
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