Stefanos Tsitsipas, the renowned Greek tennis ace, has recently taken a career move that has left his fans in an uproar. With a staggering career earnings of over £25million on the court, he is now charging his Instagram subscribers £5.99 per month for exclusive social media content. This decision has sparked a wave of backlash among his 1.9 million followers.

Tsitsipas' Fanbase Divided as He Puts Content Behind a Paywall

Tsitsipas' Earnings and the Decision to Charge

Tsitsipas has raked in an impressive £25.3m in career prize money, with £2.6m coming from this year alone. Despite his massive earnings, he has decided to seek additional revenue by charging his Instagram subscribers. This move has left fans unimpressed, as they feel that his money should not come at the expense of excluding them from certain content.Fans who sign up for the exclusive content will gain access to extra stories and posts that are not available to the general public. Tsitsipas has also announced that he will be holding livestream giveaways exclusively for his paid subscribers, adding another layer of controversy to his decision.

The Impact on His Fanbase

The reaction from fans has been mixed. One follower commented, "Stef, I've been your fan for six years and money won't buy that. You should do it for everybody, not just to those who are your subscribers." Another added, "Stef, I am one of your devoted fans but I don't think this is a good idea. Not all of your fans can afford it for financial or other reasons (paid subscription is not available in Russia). Does it make sense to split your fans by putting some above others?"Even Tsitsipas' girlfriend Paula Badosa, a fellow tennis player with over £6.1m in career prize money and currently ranked 12th in the world, is among the 120 Instagram users subscribed to his content. The couple announced their split in May but rekindled their romance later in the year.

The Livestream Giveaway and Prizes

Announcing his first livestream giveaway, Tsitsipas posted on X, "I'm hosting an exclusive Off-Season Q&A tomorrow night on Instagram, and it's going to be extra special for my subscribers." If fans sign up, they will have the chance to win the top prize of 'a free daily pass ticket to all four Grand Slams for one lucky viewer (for the whole year!)'. A signed Wilson racket and full Adidas kit will also be on offer when he holds the giveaway live on Thursday night.However, it is worth noting that he currently only has just over 120 paid subscribers on Instagram. This raises questions about the viability of his business model and the potential impact on his fanbase.In conclusion, Stefanos Tsitsipas' decision to charge fans for exclusive content has divided his fanbase and sparked a lot of debate. While he may be seeking to increase his revenue, he has also faced criticism for excluding some of his fans from certain experiences. Only time will tell how this move will affect his career and his relationship with his fans.