LEILA FADEL, HOST:
The U.S. Open begins this weekend. So who seems poised to win this year's tennis tournament and its record-setting prize money? Joining us for a preview is Jon Wertheim with Sports Illustrated. Good morning.
JON WERTHEIM: Good morning.
FADEL: So what are you following in this year's tournament?
WERTHEIM: Great question. This is the fourth major, so this is the last shot for these players. I mean, in the men's side, this Carlos Alcaraz-Jannik Sinner rivalry has sort of become the new Federer-Nadal-Djokovic. It's sort of those two are the main candidates, and everyone else is sort of a write-in. And then on the women's side, Iga Swiatek, this sort of talented player from Poland had a bit of a slip earlier this season. But then she won Wimbledon and now suddenly looks like the player to beat.
FADEL: So those are the players to watch?
WERTHEIM: Three among many, but yes.
FADEL: Whoever comes out on top is going to win the largest prize money in tennis history. How much money are we talking about here?
WERTHEIM: The winner gets $5 million. On the other hand, you know, this is now a 15-day sporting event that draws record crowds. And the tickets aren't inexpensive. So as a function of revenue, I would say the players, you know, the 5 million sounds like a lot of money. But this is an event that brings in a lot of money as well.
FADEL: It does sound like a lot of money. With that high of a prize, does it change or influence the tournament at all?
WERTHEIM: I think, you know, to the top players, you know, they all do very well in their lives. But I think what's really significant is that the first-round prize money - so if you and I played and didn't win a single point but were in the first round, we would still make $110,000.
FADEL: Wow.
WERTHEIM: And I think, in a way, sort of the prize money at the lower levels, at the lower rounds, that almost has more impact than the winner getting this check, you know, for 5 million.
FADEL: I can confirm that if I played, I would not make a single point. Pretty sure that's...
WERTHEIM: You and me both.
FADEL: What about predictions for you this weekend?
WERTHEIM: I'm interested in seeing Coco Gauff, who won the French Open, talented young American player. But she just changed coaches on the eve of the tournament, which we don't see very often, and now is working with a new sort of biomechanical coach. She won the U.S. Open two years ago, has struggled a bit the last few months. So it's sort of this interesting point where she is this great champion. She's already won a major title this year in Paris at Roland-Garros, and yet she's really struggling. And then on the men's side, can anyone crack this duopoly between Alcaraz and Sinner, who have won each of the last seven majors?
FADEL: Jon Wertheim with Sports Illustrated. Thank you, Jon.
WERTHEIM: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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