With Wimbledon cancelled for 2020 and the WTA season suspended till at least mid-July this year, things haven’t been looking too good for anyone. What are some of the WTA players like Naomi Broady, Tara Moore and Ons Jabeur saying about the lack of sport during this coronavirus-induced lockdown?
Broady, who injured her ankle last October and hasn’t played since, revealed to BBC she contemplated working in a supermarket when the tennis was first postponed.
Speaking about the issues tennis players are facing, she said given the nature of the sport they were paid only if they played and with Broady having played no tennis since last October, it had become difficult enough for her leading to her contemplating taking that step.
Also Read:
She said:
“I was looking at doing supermarket work, especially at the start when they were saying they were struggling for staff.”
Broady also pointed out things become a lot difficult for the lower-ranked players who anyway don’t earn too much from the second and third tier tournaments. She said things could get to a level where such tennis players might find it doubly tough.
The good news is the LTA announced they will be providing some sort of a financial support for those tennis players and coaches affected by this tennis lockdown. According to report a sum of £20m will be donated to “protect the tennis grassroots” in Great Britain.
Another tennis player, Sofia Shapatava has petitioned through change.org to get the International Tennis Federation, WTA and ATP to assist other players struggling to make ends meet. At the time of writing it had generated more than 1600 signatures.
Another British tennis player Tara Moore revealed her fears about the tennis suspension. She also said without playing the sport there would be no payment for players who might struggle to “put food to the table”.
Moore said:
“It is very weird to listen that professional tennis players struggle with food, but that is reality. Half of the people I know work on [the] side, coach or play club matches, and since the world is on shutdown that is impossible to do.”
Meanwhile Jabeur, who made rapid strides during the Australian Open earlier this year, said she was not just disappointed by Wimbledon’s decision to cancel the tournament but it also made her confused.
She said she wasn’t sure whether just one or two Grand Slams would be played this year but hoped for the best.
Jabeur also revealed how her daily routine was affected by the lockdown situation since she was in New York. She said she was able to go running and do some exercises at home but nothing much beyond that.
Be the first to comment