Player funds: Lucas Pouille on the side of Dominic Thiem
Lucas Pouille also takes a critical view of the idea of a fund co-financed by the professionals to support poorly ranked players. The Frenchman explained this in an interview with L´Équipe.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: May 22, 2020, 10:44 am
The first proposal of the umbrella organizations ATP and WTA to support weaker players has been in circulation for a few days, the international response was mixed. In any case, professionals should benefit from subsidies between the world rankings 101 and 500. In doubles, the upper limit for women is 175, for men in position 200. The extent to which the top professionals will pay into this pot remains still open. Jürgen Melzer, member of the ATP players' council, declared a few weeks ago that the contributions are collected anonymously and voluntarily.
Dominic Thiem's statement that he would rather donate his money to organizations that need his support more urgently than tennis professionals was not universally accepted. Above all, not the suggestion that players in the rear regions might not subordinate everything to sport. In any case, Lucas Pouille can understand the arguments of the Austrian.
Close to the emotional state of Dominic Thiem
"Of course we should all stick together, but I'm pretty close to Dominic Thiem's emotional state," the Frenchman told L'Equipe. "I am willing to help because there are players who invest an incredible amount in getting ahead, but their rankings do not improve. But it is clear that others do not have the necessary willingness. But after I do not want to generalize: If I am asked to pay, I will pay. "
Pouille considers the overall situation in tennis to be extremely critical. "The crisis will weaken the tennis economy. I know that there are quite a few tournaments that plan to stop holding their events. Now is the time to be able to rely on ATP and its resources."