Tennis: The sport that empowers young female players according to Bouchard and Eubanks.

Tennis is undoubtedly one of the most lucrative sports for women, especially for young athletes aspiring to a sports career. With an impressive list of female athletes dominating the financial rankings, such as Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka, who have surpassed the incredible milestone of 30 million dollars in earnings, the conversation surrounding the sport couldn’t be more relevant. Recently, Eugenie Bouchard and Christopher Eubanks shared their perspectives on this phenomenon on the Tennis Channel, highlighting the reasons why tennis is an excellent choice for girls.

Bouchard, a former Wimbledon finalist, began the discussion by thanking her parents for introducing her to tennis. “Well, first I have to thank my mom and dad for putting me in tennis,” she said with a laugh. “They made a good decision with my time. I think it’s just a great sport.” The Canadian player emphasized that, despite the physical differences between genders, the similarities in gameplay are remarkable. “In terms of play, it’s the sport most similar to men’s. Obviously, men are stronger and have more powerful serves, but when it comes to baseline points, we’re quite close. That proximity also translates into dollars because people want to see that product.”

Eubanks, for his part, agreed with Bouchard, but did not hesitate to address the harsh reality that some players face. “One thing I want to highlight for the fans: when we talk about lower-ranked players who earn around a million dollars a year, these players have very high expenses,” he explained. “When you hear a million dollars, you don’t assume that someone like Caroline Dolehide has a million in the bank. Between taxes and paying her team, a good portion goes away.” However, he praised the rewards that tennis offers. “Still, it’s much better than in many other sports. I would love to see the growth continue, and I think everyone wants that. But there is no doubt that tennis is one of the best sports for young women, not just at the professional level, but also for college scholarships. There are so many opportunities in tennis. I would love to see the prizes continue to grow, but at the moment the sport is in a pretty good place.”

Another crucial factor for the financial success of female tennis players is the money coming from sponsorships. Bouchard formulated a theory about this. “I think so, because it’s such an individual sport,” she said. “You can really showcase your personality and build a brand around yourself – your name. You’re not wearing a jersey with just your name on the back. You can promote yourself a lot, especially with social media. Marketing is off the charts right now.” The host, Steve Weissman, joked that Bouchard is already getting old, but this only highlights the evolution that this aspect of tennis has undergone in such a short time since the player’s glory days in 2017 and 2018.

“Ten years ago I thought we were ahead of the game, but now everyone can make so much more money off the court,” Bouchard admitted. “Of course, we still want to see that improvement. And we can’t forget that tennis players are self-funded. We pay for everything ourselves, which is different from team sports. They have their travel paid for, their coaches paid – our biggest expenses are those. So, a lot of the money goes towards that.”

Eubanks added even more context to this issue, focusing on the global recognition that tennis receives. “Another factor from a marketing perspective is that tennis is a global sport,” he said. “You can have fans in different countries and cultures who want to support you. It’s almost like a stock – you support a player and you want to see them grow. We also travel to many countries, attracting fans from all over the world. That plays a big role in marketing, growth on social media, and everything in between.”

Of course, the prize money has significant implications for this list of top athletes. Both men and women receive the same amount in prize money at Grand Slam events, and tournaments like the Indian Wells Open also offer equal prize money for both genders. “It’s great to see that,” exclaimed Bouchard. “At the Grand Slam level, the prize money is equal, although it’s still not the case in some other tournaments, which is something that can improve. But women are making their mark and showing how marketable they are.”

The conversation quickly turned to Rybakina and the fact that $5.3 million of the $8.4 million earned in 2025 came from her victory at the WTA Finals against Sabalenka. “It’s crazy. Congratulations to her for winning and bringing that energy into this year,” praised Eubanks. “That prize is massive. Even if she doesn’t always show enthusiasm externally, I’m sure there’s a lot of excitement from her, her team, and her family – not just for lifting the trophy, but also for taking home such a big check.”

Weissman concluded the conversation with a humorous tone: “It’s fantastic. If you have young girls out there, put a racquet in their hands!”