Djokovic Says Tennis 'Big Three' Plan to Help Lowest-Ranked Players
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12 Monday, April 20, 2020 Sports Serena Williams’ coach and Nadal planning matches at academies AFP leased a statement unveil- portant thing is everyone’s der the title “Ultimate Tennis ment, fans watching remotely PARIS ing a planned “league” of 50 health, but if in the coming Showdown”. would be able to interact in matches at his academy near months the Academy can be The competition will start real time with the players, lis- BOTH Rafael Nadal and Ser- Nice in the south of France used to help other profession- on the weekend of May 16 ten to conversations between ena Williams’ coach Patrick and talking of “millions of US al players, I’d be delighted if with a match between world the players and their coaches. Mouratoglou announced plans dollars in prize money”. they could come to train and number 10 David Goffin and Mouratoglou said that the on Saturday to stage matches The Nadal Academy said also to compete,” Nadal said. 20-year-old Australian Alexei competition will be “player- at their tennis academies. it was considering becoming “I think that competing Popyrin, who is training at centric” could be “particular- With top-level profession- “a campus where elite play- among ourselves would help the academy and whose fa- ly beneficial to lower-ranked al tennis shut down until at ers can reside, train and com- us maintain our game for ther reportedly came up with players.” least July 13, both academies pete between themselves in when the tour restarts.” the idea. The lockdown in France said they were examining matches that will be televised The academy has hosted The lineup for later match- is scheduled to end on May the possibility of staging and so that fans around the world a Challenger Tour event, the es has yet to be decided. 11, which means players will broadcasting matches so fans can enjoy them.” Rafa Nadal Open, as well as The statement posted on be able to travel, although could watch remotely. It said Nadal had origi- other lower-ranked and jun- social media said that the mass events will still be While the Rafael Nadal nated the idea and that the ior tournaments. “UTS aims to reinvent the banned, so no spectators academy, based on the Span- academy had been in taks Mouratoglou’s state- way tennis is usually experi- would be allowed. ish island of Mallorca, said with ATP chairman Andrea ment said he was planning enced and consumed.” The Spanish government on its website that it was in Gaudenzi. 10 closed-door matches to be On-court coaching and on Saturday proposed ex- talks with the ATP on how “Right now tennis takes broadcast live at his academy video coaching would be al- tending its lockdown until The Rafa Nadal Academy wants to become a base for players to train to proceed, Mouratoglou re- a back seat and the most im- on each of five weekends un- lowed and, said the state- May 9. and play during the coronavirus pandemic. (AFP) Tennis warned of Djokovic says tennis ‘elevated risk of corruption’ ‘big three’ plan to help during lockdown AFP portunities created are wel- PARIS comed, we must advise you that there may be an ele- lowest-ranked players TENNIS players taking part vated risk of corruption and in private tournaments while corrupt approaches in some the sport is in lockdown have of these environments.” AFP tennis media, Djokovic, as been warned that match-fix- Rafael Nadal and Patrick PARIS president of the ATP Players’ ers remain a threat. Mouratoglou, the coach of Council, which also includes ATP and WTA events Serena Williams, both say NOVAK Djokovic said on Federer and Nadal, pro- have been on ice for over a that they plan events at their Saturday that he, Roger posed to members that play- month and will not resume academies. Federer and Rafael Nadal ers in the top 100 for singles until July 13 at the earliest. The Nadal Academy in are organising aid for play- and the top 20 in doubles In the meantime, exhi- Mallorca said it was consid- ers struggling with the pa- contribute according to their bition matches, as well as ering becoming “a campus ralysis of the game due to the rankings. virtual tennis tournaments, where elite players can re- coronavirus pandemic. The proposed scale runs have been suggested as a side, train and compete be- “I spoke to Roger and from $30,000 for a top-five means to sharpen competi- tween themselves in match- Rafa a few days ago,” Djoko- player to $5,000 for those tive edges and boost bank es that will be televised so vic, the world number one, between 51 and 100. balances. that fans around the world said in an Instagram chat That would raise approx- “The suspension of pro- can enjoy them.” with friend and rival Stan imately $1 million and the fessional tennis is an uncer- Mouratoglou released Wawrinka on Saturday. ATP would make a similar tain and challenging time for a statement unveiling a “We had a long conversa- contribution. the tennis community,” said planned “league” of 50 tion about the near future of On Friday, ATP chief An- a statement from corruption matches at his academy near tennis, what is going to hap- drea Gaudenzi echoed the watchdog, the Tennis Integ- Nice in the south of France pen, how we can contribute call for unity on the tour rity Unit. and talking of “millions of and how we can help espe- website. “Some privately organ- US dollars in prize money”. cially lower-ranked players, “Our guys are at home, ised exhibition matches, Mouratoglou said he was who are obviously struggling obviously unable to play, tournaments and even eS- planning 10 closed-door the most.” unable to earn money and ports events will start to take matches to be broadcast live “The majority of the play- financially struggling, so place where and when local on each of five weekends un- ers who are ranked between we will try to help,” he said, government restrictions al- der the title “Ultimate Ten- 200, 250 in the world, and Novak Djokovic said he is talking to Roger Federer as well as Rafael Nadal about giving money to players who adding that the ATP faced low. nis Showdown”. the 700th or 1,000th do not are struggling financially. (AFP) the problem of not knowing “We understand that The competition will have federation support, do how long the crisis would these will be attractive op- start on the weekend of May not have sponsors. They are Millman questions ‘big three’ plan to help tennis professionals last and how much revenue portunities to many of you 16 with a match between completely independent and it would lose. eager to play and to earn an world number 10 David Gof- left alone,” he said DPA pandemic to realize this? Surely L’Equipe, in a letter calling for “I’ve been quite touched income. fin and 20-year-old Austral- “Guys who are ranked BERLIN over the many years of top end the top 100 to make dona- by the top players who “While the playing op- ian Alexei Popyrin. between 200-250, especially heavy prize money increases tions on a sliding scale. While reached out, the big names to 700...are thinking of leav- THE planned initiative from we maybe should have maybe he and the rest of the top five expressing their desire of ing tennis right now.” tennis ‘big three’ Novak distributed the spread a little would donate 30,000 dollars, helping the lower-ranked He said players, the ATP Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and more...” Millman, ranked 43 in Millman would be asked to players and putting those and the four Grand Slams Roger Federer to support lower the world, wrote on Twitter. donate 10,000 dollars. players first.” “would all get together and ranked professionals during However, the four Grand Other contributions would “We are also talking will contribute to a player the coronavirus crisis has been Slams have recently increased come the grand slams and with the Grand Slams about relief fund that ATP will dis- questioned by Australian player the amounts paid to those los- ATP Finals with the aim of it. They may want to join tribute.” John Millman on Sunday. ing in the first round. giving the players ranked in the effort. I think it “It looks, hopefully, that “If the concern is to help Djokovic, who is also presi- 250-700 10,000 dollars each, would be a great message for there will something be- players ranked 250-700 in the dent of the ATP player council, which would require 4.5 mil- the sport.” tween $3 million (2.75 mil- world why has it taken a global was quoted by French paper lion dollars overall. World tennis has been lion euros) and $4.5 million at a standstill since the be- that is going to be distribut- ginning of March and will ed,” he estimated. bonus pools for top players. son, we can take a certain roots of tennis. The future not resume until mid-July Djokovic said the cash percentage from our prize of tennis. We need to show at the earliest following the could come from the prize ‘Future OF tennis’ money form Australian them they still can rely on postponement of Roland money for the season-ending “Maybe if we don’t have Open in January,” he said. support of the top guys.” Garros and the cancellation World Tour Finals or the final any tournaments this sea- “These guys are the grass According to reports in of Wimbledon.