Why wait for a pandemic? – Djokovic plan for low-ranked players queried

Agence France-Presse

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Why wait for a pandemic? – Djokovic plan for low-ranked players queried
Novak Djokovic says that he, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal are organizing aid for lower-ranked players who have no income while tennis is suspended

BRISBANE, Australia – Australia’s John Millman has questioned a multi-million dollar plan floated by Novak Djokovic to help struggling tennis players during the coronavirus shutdown, asking why it had not been done before.

Novak Djokovic said on Saturday that the “Big Three” – himself, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal – are organizing aid for lower-ranked players who have no income while the sport is suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“The majority of the players who are ranked between 200, 250 in the world, and the 700th or 1,000th do not have federation support, do not have sponsors. They are completely independent and left alone,” Djokovic said in an Instagram chat with friend and rival Stan Wawrinka.

“Guys who are ranked between 200 to 250, especially to 700… are thinking of leaving tennis right now.”

But world No. 43 Millman said lower-ranked players should have been paid better in the past.

“If the concern is to help players ranked 250 to 700 in the world, why has it taken a global pandemic to realize this?” he tweeted Sunday.

“Surely over the many years of top end heavy prize money increases, we maybe should have maybe distributed the spread a little more…”

Brisbane-based Millman, Australia’s No. 3, said the “unfairness of the lower tours” meant he had always been “uncomfortable” with the “top end heavy sport.”

“[I’ve] often referenced the struggle… because I’ve properly lived through the lower levels,” he tweeted.

Djokovic said players, the ATP, and the 4 Grand Slams “would all get together and will contribute to a player relief fund that ATP will distribute.”

He estimated that between $3 million and $4.5 million could be distributed through the scheme. – Rappler.com

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