Patrick Mouratoglou calls for help for tennis players
The voices that demand the support of the currently unemployed tennis professionals who are not among the big earners in the industry are getting louder. Most recently, Serena Williams coach Patrick Mouratoglou drew attention to the topic.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Apr 08, 2020, 12:51 pm
Patrick Mouratoglou knows many sides of the tennis business: On the one hand, the Frenchman has been looking after Serena Williams, a woman who has provided financial support for a long time. The family around Stefanos Tsitsipas , with whom Mouratoglou travels more often, does not have to struggle with existential needs due to the long Corona break. The situation is different for players who occupy a three-digit rank in the world rankings. That's what the star coach worries about, who occasionally works as a TV expert at Eurosport.
On the other hand, Mouratoglou has already looked after young people in his academy, whose parents invested a lot of money, but who never made the leap into professional tennis. Or eke out your existence outside the top 100 rankings. Patrick Mouratoglou is seriously concerned about the latter. The top players are doing well. "However, I find it outrageous that the number 100 one of the most popular sports in the world - followed by an estimated one billion fans - can hardly make a living from it," Mouratoglou explained in an Instagram post.
In contrast to athletes who earn their money in football or basketball and receive a regular income, tennis professionals would be extremely bad at times like these.
Torebko - "For everyone behind the Top 100 it will be really hairy"
Peter Torebko, German professional, who hit balls with the stars of the industry in 2018 as a hitting partner at the ATP Finals in the O2 Arena in London (by the way for very little money) is also in the same horn. Speaking to SPORT1, Torebko said: "The players in the top 100 make a lot of money, but it gets really hairy for everyone behind them." In the ATP world rankings, Torebko is currently above the top 300, his most lucrative job, playing in various tennis leagues , however, has also dried up until further notice. “On the one hand, this is a secure source of income and, on the other hand, it's very straightforward. If you plan that early enough, you are covered, "said Torebko.
A few days ago, the Georgian Sofia Shapatava started a petition promoting the support of tennis professionals who, like Federers, Nadals and Djokovics, are not bedded on roses. In the meantime, more than 1,300 players have joined this petition.
And after the cancellation of Wimbledon, coach Sven Groenefeld also pointedly pointed out that it was now time for those responsible in tennis to look after all those who formed the foundation of the world sport.