Mackenzie McDonald knows that, compared with most men his age, he is financially well off.
A California-born professional tennis player, McDonald, 31, has earned more than $7 million in prize money in his 10 years on the ATP Tour. In October 2023, he was ranked a career-high No. 37 in the world, but injuries and lackluster play have dropped his ranking to No. 125.
Such a change in ranking is not only a blow to a professional athlete’s ego. With it comes greater financial challenges, prompting a scramble to find ways to generate enough income to keep participating in competitions and also maintain a comfortable lifestyle — the kind that will, some day, make retirement possible.
For the vast majority of professional athletes who are not the top earners, it’s a reality that they grapple with, even as they continue to compete in tournaments and other events.
So far, McDonald is making an above-average income. In 2025, he earned $710,040 in prize money despite a 10-17 win-loss record in tour-level matches. But the competition — and expenses — are grueling. He lost in the first round at the French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open.
In all, between tour-level and Challenger events, McDonald played in 30 tournaments last season, including in Australia, China and Kazakhstan.
He knows that he is on the back end of his career. So far this year he is just 2-4 in tour-level matches and has earned close to $187,000. He says he plans to play another five years, but that could change at any time.
“I know I’ve done well,” McDonald said. “I’ve saved a lot of my money.” But, he added, “I’m very aware of my post-career life.”
That worry is not shared by all professional athletes. Unless they have poorly managed their money, the top earners can be set for life. Novak Djokovic, a 24-time major champion, has amassed nearly $200 million in career prize money plus millions more in endorsements. Roger Federer, who retired in 2022, earned more than $130 million in prize money, while Rafael Nadal won close to $140 million before he retired in 2024. Federer became a billionaire last year through his sponsorship deals with the Swiss running brand On and others.
In other sports as well, superstar athletes are historically well compensated for filling stadium seats and selling products. The soccer sensation Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly earns around $200 million a year, and the Major League Baseball pitcher Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers is worth $700 million. According to Forbes, the basketball legend Michael Jordan’s net worth is reportedly $4.3 billion, while the golfer Tiger Woods is worth $1.5 billion.
But for every Lionel Messi and Steph Curry, there are infinitely more Mackie McDonalds.
The shelf life of a pro tennis player is short. Many suffer from career-ending injuries, physical exhaustion and burnout. Most leave the game before they turn 40.
And tennis, unlike team sports, is a pay-for-play sport. There is no team franchise that funds coaching, travel, hotels, meals, medical needs and equipment. Tennis players are responsible for paying for international travel not only for themselves, but for every coach, trainer, physical therapist and psychologist they employ. They also have to cover the costs of everything from racket stringing to financial planning.
The ATP, the tour’s governing body, does offer its members benefits, but they are skewed toward the top performers. Through its OneVision strategic plan that began in 2023, the men’s tour will offer $21.5 million in year-end bonus pool money to the top 30 point-gatherers in select events this season. Last year, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner topped the list. Both have already earned more than $60 million in career prize money.
The ATP also has a pension plan by which the top 150-ranked singles players and top 50 doubles teams were awarded an additional $129,550 last year and the next 100 received $20,000. The tour’s Baseline initiative guarantees minimum payouts to its members, ensuring that someone ranked in the top 100 will earn $300,000 even if their match results don’t warrant it. Players ranked 101-175, like McDonald, are guaranteed to earn $200,000 — a welcome safety net, though one that is likely short-lived.
That is nowhere near the minimum $1.3 million paid to N.B.A. players this season. Last year the average salary in the N.F.L. was approximately $3.2 million to $5.2 million.
In a telephone interview in late March from Houston, where he was competing in an ATP tournament, McDonald discussed the financial aspects of his career. The interview has been edited and condensed.
You were a top junior and an N.C.A.A. champion at U.C.L.A. before you turned pro in 2016. You chose to move from California to live near the U.S.T.A.’s headquarters in Florida. Was that because you could save money by using the facilities there?
That’s definitely a part of it. I learned fast the culture shock of pro tennis that you’re in your suitcase 40 weeks of the year. And the U.S.T.A. was willing to invest in me, give me a coach and strength training. The [lack of] Florida income tax was great, too.
What were your goals when you turned pro?
I wrote down that I wanted to reach the second week of Slams [Wimbledon and the Australian, French and U.S. Opens]; I wanted to be top 50 in singles and doubles at the same time; I wanted to play Davis Cup; and I wanted to play tournaments around the world. I did all that pretty quickly. I just haven’t won an ATP title and that’s something I would like to make my mark on the tour with.
You have a fairly sparse team with only your coach, your strength coach and your fiancée traveling with you. Is that a cost-saving measure too?
I feel like I’ve simplified it over the years. My coach is my fiancée’s father and he’s a damn good coach. I pay him when I am on the road and when we are home training as well.
What’s a ballpark figure of your annual expenses?
If you include coaching fees, hotels, airfare for my coach, myself and my team and stringing, I’d say $200,000.
How is it different financially being ranked No. 125 in the world from No. 37?
It’s quite different. When you’re top 50 your checks and balances are good. Every single week you’re getting into bigger tournaments and you’re cashing in. At No. 125, if I don’t start competing and doing better I’m probably going to end up with $600,000 and that’s before tax and expenses.
Do you get any endorsement money now?
I get a little from my racket company, Yonex, and a little from K-Swiss, my clothing and shoe company. That’s it. I don’t have any patch deals like I used to. When you’re top 50 you get off-court deals, too.
Do you have a timeline for retirement, given that guys are playing longer than ever?
I could say that I plan to play until I’m 35 and that’s a safe answer for you. Beyond that there are all those variables, health, not getting kicked out of that level. I’m still sitting at 125. I’ve got to get back in there and be competitive. But I want to enjoy the rest of my career with family and always working hard because I don’t know anything else.
Having $7 million in career prize money is still a lot better than most people make before age 31.
I think this is the most handsomely I’m going to be compensated in my life. The thing is, for a tennis player it’s a short career and you don’t know how stable it’s going to be. I’m getting my [college] degree and I’m setting myself up with some other stuff. But it’s a brutal lifestyle and you really need to have all your ducks in a row.
