Thiem's criticism of the 'Big Three' proposal to distribute money coexist with the uncertainty of the most modest.
Nadal and THiem, after their semifinal of the last Australian Open.
A few weeks ago, in the group of WhatsApp shared by the 100 best tennis players in the world, an idea emerged that was soon sponsored by Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. With the circuit paralyzed by the pandemic, the best players decided to join forces for financial aid to colleagues who can barely reach the end of the month. Laborers of the racket who in these uncertain days still do not know if there is a future on the other side of the net.
The challenge today seems huge for the Association of Professional Tennis Players (ATP) and the International Federation (ITF), organizers, respectively, of the tournaments Futures and Challengers, where every week young people of great projection fought with veterans almost back from everything. Away from the luxuries of the Grand Slams and Masters 1000, these circuits are the scene of a fight for survival, more threatened now than ever because of the Covid-19.
“The ATP has only sent us a few mails, although at the moment they have not been able to specify anything about who can benefit from this aid, “he says. Carlos Taberner, 175th in the ranking. At 22, this Valencian is still unclear if the $ 10,000 proposed by the Big three will allow you a break. Because of his 34,000 dollars in prizes from the beginning of 2020, he had to deduct the expenses of the trips, the salaries of his coach and physical trainer or the inevitable snack of the Treasury. “If you don't have a brand by your side, this is an expensive sport. You have to find the chestnuts, choosing the tournaments well ».
“The hole is very small”
Since 2015, at just 17 years old, Taberner has been beating copper to open a gap in Futures. Side by side with sweaty rivals to raise $ 50,000 throughout the season. «I've been there and it costs a lot. You can have a tremendous year at ITF, but you start to see the light with Challengers and the previous ones of Grand Slam », he admits in memory of his recent time at the Australian Open and the subsequent South American tour. “Competitiveness is good, because it makes you better, but if you relax one day, they will pass you on the right and on the left. The hole through which you enter the elite is very small, “he admits.
Although the wage gap between rich and poor is becoming more evident, not everyone involved seems to share the wave of solidarity driven by the big stars. Two weeks ago, Dominic Thiem, number three in the ranks, distanced himself from the proposal with inflammatory statements. «As far as I know, none of the tennis players spoken of is fighting for his life. I have seen many cases of players who do not commit 100% and behave in an unprofessional way, so I do not understand why we should give them our money, ”proclaimed the last finalist in Melbourne, where he received just over two million dollars in awards.
And Sunday, Matteo Berrettini added to this critical current. “I prefer to help a hospital or a family that needs resources to survive instead of helping a tennis player,” said the Italian, who pocketed $ 960,000 last September for his semifinalist position at the US Open.
The fatality of 97th place
A dialectical battle was added Nick Kyrgios, in defense of the most disadvantaged. Thiem doesn't understand anything about the current situation. He does not realize that the best are paid too much, while many others do not have enough to remain active, “said the loquacious Australian, for whom this matter is simply” empathy towards others.
“Until it is confirmed I do not believe anything,” he admits Javier Barranco, 21, 296th in the ranking, which in 2020 does not exceed $ 6,000 in prizes. “The last thing they told us is that between 150 and 500 we were going to receive about $ 6,000. They told us that this week they confirmed it, but we have not yet received the mail», Added this Almerian, friend of Alejandro Davidovich.
From position 97, the 2017 Wimbledon junior champion is facing, paradoxically, an inverse situation, although equally compromised. “Those in the Top-5 will donate $ 30,000 each, but the ATP says that everyone in the Top-100 must give at least 15,000. And that sum is too important for players like Alejandro », ends Barranco.
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