The women tennis players are ready to make a revolutionary change! But there’s a long narrative behind why the top 20 WTA tennis players have decided to make a change. Although practically everyone is prepared for the significant request that has been made of the WTA, certain players have yet to consent to becoming a part of this shift.
Recently, tennis journalist Jon Wertheim made a huge revelation regarding how Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Iga Swiatek have still not decided to be a part of the demand. Let’s look at the demands the players have decided to make of the association, while these three tennis players maintained a distance.
Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek remain silent on a WTA issue
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The tension between tennis players and the ATP and WTA organizations has taken a rise in the past few years. Apparently, the female tennis players have come to an agreement to request a fixed amount for tennis players ranked till 250. While a demand letter has been sent to the association regarding the concern, there are only three players who have not signed the letters.
Wertheim, in a recent podcast interview with Match Point Canada, talked about how the three most marketable players have still not taken part in the agreement put forward.
He said, “The three names that weren’t that stuck out to me were Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Jessica Pegula. And of course, you know, you might ask, how much impact demand letter can have when you know, arguably the three most marketable players were at least, you know, two to two of the three, two of the three America, two of the three top Americans, two of the three top players are not signed on to that.”
The demand is all about receiving a fixed amount so that players can make their living by being a part of the continuous tennis tour. All top 100 players are expected to get a fixed salary of $500,000 as part of the specifications.
In contrast, players in positions 101 through 175 should be paid $200,000, and players in positions 200 through 250 should be paid a minimum of $100,000. Nevertheless, this concern was first raised by the Novak Djokovic-led PTPA, but looking into the bigger picture.
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When Djokovic’s PTPA raised a similar concern
Earlier this year, in March, the challenging situation faced by tennis players was first raised by the Professional Tennis Players Association. While the world-ranked tennis player himself has talked about this concern. During an ATP Tour 500 tournament in Dubai, the Serb addressed that, “According to some statistics, we are number three or four in the world in terms of viewership. 1.3 billion people are watching us. And yet only 400 people – men and women – can make a living from this sport.”
Nevertheless, he also addressed how, as 1000 players compete worldwide, unfortunately only a few—around 400 to 500 tennis players—can literally make a living out of the sport.
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However, what do you think about the demand raised by female tennis players for a fixed salary on tours? Post your comments in the space provided below.
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