"It's absurd" - Andy Roddick furious at NCAA rule as Maya Joint risks forfeiting US Open 2024 1R prize money due to college tennis commitment

Andy Roddick was furious at NCAA rules about prize money as Maya Joint is set to lose out on most of the $140,000 she earned after winning her first-round match at the 2024 US Open. 18-year-old Joint won her maiden main draw match at the New York Slam against Laura Siegemund.

Joint will join the University of Texas for a psychology degree and hence risks forfeiting the $140,000 that she has earned due to NCAA rules.

The rules state that:

"In tennis, prior to full-time collegiate enrollment, an individual may accept up to $10,000 per calendar year in prize money based on his or her place finish or performance in open athletics events (events that are not invitation only). Once the individual has reached the $10,000 limit in a particular year, he or she may receive additional prize money on a per-event basis, provided such prize money does not exceed the individual's actual and necessary expenses for participation in the event."

Recently, Jon Wertheim said that the US Open should reimburse collegiate athletes with an in-kind deal, which means giving goods or services in place of cash. According to Spry, collegiate athletes are allowed to accept in-kind payments.

"Why doesn’t the @usopen keep the prize money and give her an in-kind NIL deal? Same impact on the balance sheet and player can keep $$ and her eligibility," Tennis Channel's Wertheim opined.

Roddick replied to Wertheim's tweet and wrote:

"It’s absurd to me that a college athlete can take money from a local car dealership but can’t accept earned prize money from the US Open."

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Andy Roddick and Jon Wertheim about college tennis - "It's something that's positive"

Andy Roddick at the US Open 2023 (Image: Getty)

Andy Roddick and Jon Wertheim recently talked about the impact of college tennis on the sport in an episode of the former World No. 1's podcast Served with Andy Roddick. Wertheim said that college tennis players are better suited to handle hostile environments.

He added that many agents, as well as coaches, are also former college players.

"I also have noticed that college players are everywhere, not just on the court, a lot of agents went to college, a lot of coaches went to college... So the impact of college tennis on this sport not just in the doubles draw which is what it was about 10 years ago but throughout this whole ecosystem I think it's something that's positive," he said. [1:50 onwards]

Andy Roddick retired from tennis in 2012 (singles) and 2015 (doubles). He has one Grand Slam title to his name, the 2003 US Open.