Opelka charges against ATP: “It couldn't have been worse”

Becoming the second 'COVID-19 era' tennis player to win a tennis tournament does not seem to have been a source of satisfaction for Reilly Opelka. The American conquered last week the Florida UTR Pro Match Series exhibit, after which he harshly criticized the ATP and its leaders in the magazine Racquet for its management during the stoppage caused by the coronavirus, an inactivity that the body will last until July 31, as announced last Friday.

“I'm still training, but it's a bit annoying since we don't have a return date yet. I think ATP could not have made it worse. They have left us blind, we do not know what is happening. However, I do not see that the executives have cut their salaries, something they have done in the WTA. It wouldn't seem honest to me that some ATP executives are going to bill more cash this year than Roger Federer, for example. We the players we are experiencing a 100% pay cut. I don't understand his reasoning, we don't know everything that is happening, “explained Opelka forcefully.

Also, the current number 39 of the ATP ranking He took the opportunity to criticize other measures of the men's circuit and proposed a series of ideas that would improve support for the tennis players most in need: “Players should never pay other players but, given the disaster that is on us, it seems necessary, we are their only hope That's why I support this Relief Fund in part. On the other hand, I don't think paying $ 10,000 to the world's 700 is going to change much, players under 500 are really saving money this time. We should focus on protecting the guys from 100 to 400 in the world. ” He added: “Our television rights are in a bad state. We players have no freedom. The ATP fines me every time I drink a Red Bull on a track. I am fined for everything, only their logos can be great. “