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Tennis world No. 3 Dominic Thiem He expressed skepticism on Sunday about plans to establish a fund to help lower-ranking players struggling due to the shutdown of the sport.
In an interview with the Austrian Krone newspaper, Thiem was asked about last week’s announcement by world No. 1 Novak Djokovic that he was working with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to organize help for players struggling with paralysis. of the game due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I honestly have to say that no tennis player will fight to survive, even those in a much lower rank,” Thiem said, adding: “None of them will starve.”
He said that his experience competing on the sports Futures circuit had shown him that there are “many, many players who do not put the sport above all else and do not live professionally.”
“I really wouldn’t see why I should give those players money,” he continued.
“I prefer to give money to people or organizations that really need it,” Thiem said.
Djokovic’s proposed plan would involve raising between $ 3 million and $ 4.5 million, with the money coming from prize money for the season-ending World Tour Finals or the final bonus pools for top players.
“None of us top players gave us anything, we all had to fight to move up,” Thiem said.
“I don’t have a guarantee in any job that I do well and earn a lot of money, that’s my opinion about it,” he said.
