Tennis stars call for help of struggling players

LONDON: More than 650 people have signed a petition calling for struggling tennis players to be given financial help during the coronavirus crisis.

Professional tennis was suspended earlier this month and will not resume until at least June 7.

While the shutdown will not be easy for anyone, for players below the ATP and WTA Tours who often live hand to mouth, the concerns are more serious than simply how to stay fit and pass the time.

Georgian player Sofia Shapatava was so worried about the situation she set up a petition on change.org calling for support from the International Tennis Federation, ATP and WTA.

Shapatava, ranked 371, told the Press Association news agency: “I had many conversations with my colleagues and friends about their plans for the upcoming months. Lower-ranked tennis players have no savings and it is a very hard topic.

“Usually everyone makes money on the side by coaching or club matches or prize-money tournaments but, in this situation, countries are on lockdown so there is no way to get additional income. We have no security, nor does anyone take care of us.

“I am worried indeed. I am sure I can put food on the table. But nobody stopped bills and we still have to pay for everything every month, and it is very hard to do when you stay without income completely for a couple of months.

“And, even if I have some money, I know many others who don’t know how to support themselves more then a week or two. Also many people will quit to play as, after spending all the last cents on surviving, not many will be able to just go and travel again.”

PA understands the ITF will discuss the issue as a matter of urgency, while ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said: “Our ability to address any supportive measures will be best guided once we know the duration of the crisis and when the Tour will resume.”

A statement from the Lawn Tennis Association, meanwhile, read: “During these challenging times for our society, our focus over the coming weeks will be to ensure tennis coaches, venues, volunteers, officials and players are supported in any way they can be, so that tennis in Britain emerges from this period in as strong and healthy (a) position as Tennis’ fractured nature, the low prize money at smaller events and high costs involved mean players are particularly vulnerable to falling through the cracks, and Shapatava first and foremost hopes that the governing bodies are listening.

She said: “All I know is that someone has to take responsibility for players as we all are in a way employees and we already don’t get paid enough so, in the moment of huge crisis and shutdown, at least we can have some support.

“We feel now more than ever that we have nobody that takes care of us, and nobody has the responsibility for real if all the tennis tour breaks down. It is a horrible feeling. And I am not the only one who feels it. The petition is a way to be heard.

“I understand that there are far bigger problems in the world than tennis. And I wish everyone health. But, just because there is one huge problem, it does not mean other problems don’t exist.”