Money over passion: Why Tsitsipas skips South America

The South American swing remains one of the most passionate stops on the ATP calendar, but for Stefanos Tsitsipas, the decision to stay away has come down to finances.

Speaking in an interview with CLAY, Tsitsipas admitted that financial incentives have played a decisive role in shaping his February schedule.

“South America has never offered me a deal good enough to seriously consider it. The Middle East has always been much better in terms of appearance fees,” he said.

The two-time Grand Slam finalist explained that while he appreciates the energy and love for tennis in the region, the difference in financial backing between tournaments makes it difficult to prioritise those events.

“There’s that passion in South America that I sometimes set aside, but when the financial gap is large, you really have no choice but to go with what backs your career,” he added.

Meanwhile, Matteo Berrettini believes the region deserves greater recognition at the top level of the sport. Having competed in Buenos Aires, Rio and Santiago this season, Berrettini called for a premier ATP event in South America.

“Personally, I think South America deserves to have a top-level tournament on the tour,” he said. “People here are passionate about the sport, and there are top players as well.”

With the ATP planning a new Masters 1000 event in Saudi Arabia from 2028, concerns remain that financial power could shift player priorities even further away from traditional stops like South America.