Gender Competitiveness and Predictability, and Prize Money in Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments

Abstract

Tournament competitiveness and predictability of outcomes are inversely related. We introduce a new measure of competitiveness or predictability using discrepancies between tennis players’ seed values and attained ranks in all rounds of the four Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments (GST). Using data from the Association of Tennis Professionals and Women’s Tennis Association, we study gender-differentiated competitiveness or predictability and its dependence on prize money. Men’s GST are less predictable and more competitive than women’s GST. While competitiveness increases with prize money, the increase for women is significantly larger than for men.