Carlos Alcaraz has been forced to forfeit a jaw-dropping £1.8million in prize money due to a rule which penalises players for not participating in ATP Masters 1000 tournaments. Despite leading the Bonus Pool with an impressive 4,420 points, the 22-year-old's absence from certain competitions means he has had to forfeit half of his earnings.

Earlier this month, the Spanish tennis star wrapped up the most successful season of his career, finishing the year as world No.1. He has competed in 11 finals and clinched eight titles, including two Grand Slams at the French Open (Roland Garros) and the US Open.

Alcaraz's stellar performance propelled him to the top of the Bonus Pool rankings - earning him a significant share of the £15.9million fund distributed among the 30 players who accumulate the most points across the Masters 1000 tournaments and the ATP Finals events.

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The ATP's One Vision strategic plan has pumped an extra £8.7million into the purse since 2022, making tennis one of the most lucrative sports in the world. However, while there's plenty of cash up for grabs, there are rules in place to penalise those who fail to compete.

Alcaraz could have pocketed £3.6million, but a rule stipulates that a player's reward is reduced by 25 per cent for each Masters 1000 tournament missed owing to withdrawal or injury, up to a maximum of three times. From four absences onwards, the reduction of prize money is 100 per cent.

After opting out of the Canada Open in the summer and the Shanghai Open in the autumn, Alcaraz will only pocket half of his £3.6million purse - £1.8million.

The tennis ace was spared a penalty when he missed the Madrid Open, as he still made an appearance in the Spanish capital to meet his tournament obligations, according to ATP rules.

Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner will be heading home for Christmas without a single penny. The 24-year-old, who came second in the Bonus Pool with 3,850 points, skipped four Masters 1000 tournaments - Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Canada.

Sinner didn't hold back in October when he publicly voiced his concerns about 'player welfare benefits' and increased prize money at the Grand Slam tournaments.

In an interview with The Guardian, the Italian said: "We had good conversations with the Grand Slams at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon, so it was disappointing when they said they can't act on our proposals until other issues are resolved.

"Calendar and scheduling are important topics, but there is nothing stopping the Slams from addressing player welfare benefits like pensions and healthcare right now.

"The Grand Slams are the biggest events and generate most of the revenue in tennis, so we are asking for a fair contribution to support all players, and for prize money that better reflects what these tournaments earn.

"We want to work together with the Slams to find solutions that are good for everyone in tennis."