Money in tennis nowadays.....

I was looking at this h2h and found a very interesting stat. Hewitt and Murray are just 6 years apart. Hewitt has still the better record in terms of slams and tournaments wins, ranking wise. However they peaked 8 or 9 years apart and the price money has increased considerably since as Murray has made $26M as opposed to Hewitt $19M. I believe this is the result of the Federer Nadal years who put tennis back at the top of most interesting and watchable sports. Inflation is also a factor but I suspect most of it is due to tournaments able to increase prize money.
Having said that it is also the result of Murray's many slams finals.....good money....yet no cigar (no titles that is). Hewitt messed up the USO04, AO05....Whereas Murray lost 4 I believe....so I don;t think the 2 extra final can explain teh difference of $7M in prize money.
So in conclusion the reason for more money at the top is probably due to inflation and Federer/Nadal demand.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=MC10&oId=H432

Yes, FEDAL definitely raised the profile of tennis as a sport, and with it the money.
Would be interesting to see how things change in years to come.
Murray will never be a fan magnet, I don't know anyone who'd pay to go and watch him, unless he's playing Federer, Djokovic, Berdych or Tsonga etc...

The prospect of Djokovic Murray playing final slams is truly grim, and I hope they don't turn into a trend as they really are a horrible match-up.

Having said that, I actually enjoyed watch them live in O2when Nole beat him. It was just sweet. Live, they look a lot different and less irritating as yo don't have the harrowin close-ups and growling expressions in your face all the time....

Isn't Nadal already ahead of Sampras in prize money? He hasn't won as much though, has he?