The ATP is rewarding the Carbon Tracker leaders to the tune of $100,000, which will be channeled to charitable causes of their choice.
For context, the Carbon Tracker is a revolutionary mobile app invented by the ATP in collaboration with tech giant Infosys to provide real-time data to ATP players of the distance traveled while competing on tour and the amount of carbon emitted.
The app was introduced in June 2023, and a huge number of ATP stars embraced this initiative with the sole aim of cutting down on their carbon footprint at every opportunity. But the move has been severely scorned by American ATP player Reilly Opelka as "PR and optics."
But that hasn't prevented over 200 players from signing up on the Carbon Tracker app, and there is even a special feature (called an in-app leaderboard) that determines the players who were able to reduce their travel emissions.
The Top 3 from the 2023 season were Ben Shelton, Mackenzie McDonald, and Cameron Norrie. These players were tasked to select charitable causes to donate a share of $100,000. McDonald, who finished first on the leaderboard, received $50,000.
The 28-year-old pledged the entire kitty to Greenaction, which is a charitable organization that mobilizes community power and aims to protect the environment. McDonald spoke on ATPTour.com, in which he stated the work of the organization inspires him.
Shelton came in second place and pledged $30,000 in donations to High Impact Athletes (HIA), which directly connects professional athletes to evidence-based charities in the world.
Norrie, for his part, donated $20,000 to the UK-based charity organization Sported, which inspired the life of young people through sports.
"I’m a big fan of HIA’s vision to get the most impact out of every dollar donated. That was a big pull for me in deciding which environmental causes to support with this donation. Super happy to join the other athletes that have given their voice to this movement too."