Game. Set. Profit?

Movers and Shakers: Mid-range-ranked players, between 25 and 75. This is where the real money starts to come in, and players are capable of turning upsets and stirring up great results. Coaches can bring in anywhere from $1,000 to $2,500 per week, plus bonuses, with all expenses paid. They come with much more experience at the tour level. This is also the time to consider the against-prize-money approach and year-end ranking bonuses in the coaching contract. Sort of like a golf caddy getting his piece of the action, it's the equivalent of the coach exchanging his weekly base salary for a percentage of the prize money. If a player ranked around No. 25 wins a tournament, his take-home pay could be $100,000 to $250,000, with the coach getting 10%, which is more than his normal pay. Don't forget the year-end ranking bonus. If player starts the year ranked 25 and works his way up to the top 10 or 12, it could bring in an additional $100,000 to end the year on a solid note.

Elite Coaches: World-ranking, top 20 players. Now we're talking serious tennis. At this stage of the game, the contracts get much deeper and come with all the details. It is every coach's dream to coach a player with the potential of being No. 1. In tennis, you get there by winning the Slams. It's the ultimate in the sport.

There are four major championships every year in professional tennis. These are the focus of the top 20 player, and to do well in one of them translates into money in the bank. They are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. These are the premier events of our profession and the platforms to becoming a legend. Players at this level are looking for high-caliber coaching to take them to, or keep them at, the top of the draw. The most prestigious and experienced coaches get the top jobs.

If you are fortunate enough to be hired by a top 10 or top five player, it can be quite lucrative. At this level, a coach can make up to 15% in prize money, plus bonuses. With a player making up to $10 million per year in prize money, this can be an extremely profitable business. Contracts are negotiated very carefully with much forethought. The various deals depend on the coach's track record and level of experience, as well as the player's success rate, ranking and potential. Everything increases: the pay, the thrill, the focus, the commitment and the stress.

Winning is everything. As a coach, I take this very seriously. Money may blur the vision of professional sports, but at the end of the day I've never met one successful athlete who truly cared more about the money than the win. No matter what the hype, no dollar sign can take the place of a championship. You don't have to be an athlete to know this feeling; it's either in your blood or it isn't. That's where I come in as a coach. If you want the win, I will do everything in my ability to make sure you are prepared for the moment of triumph.

Although the majority of professional coaching is player-financed, there are some positions available through organized federations. The United States Tennis Association, the Lawn Tennis Association and the French Federation offer beginning players an affordable way to travel with a designated coach. Hired and appointed by the governing association, the coaches may oversee the progress of an individual or group of promising tennis players.

In the past, these jobs were reserved for coaches willing to take lesser pay for more job security. But things are changing as national federations realize it's a good investment to hire top coaches to expedite progress and bring their country to the forefront. When Rafael Nadal won Wimbledon, he had the King and Queen of Spain in the stands along with over 13.1 million television viewers.

I like this trend, and I believe that organizations backing the stars of tomorrow will have a significant positive effect on the sport of tennis. Bringing in financial support will open up the pool of athletes for tennis, who may otherwise turn to an alternative sport. Tennis is not cheap, so the financial backing of coaches and players will make a profound difference for the future of the game.

Tennis is a sport for true athletes. It's physically and mentally challenging, there's no off season and no teammates to cover you on a bad day. You have a 10- to 15-year window to give it all you've got. You either win or you lose. It takes heart. That's why I love coaching for a living. It's more than a business; it's a passion. It's life on the edge, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Brad Gilbert is a former tennis champion turned coach. He has worked with top-ranked players, including Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick and, currently, English pro Alex Bogdanovic.

© 2008