Kiefer: Roger Federer fans can be happy as he has said he wants to play next year

Former World No. 4 and Olympic silver medallist Nicolas Kiefer says that the current tennis shutdown can be very difficult for a young player as compared to the experienced players due to the impact on their game as well as the financial aspect.

Speaking to T Online, the 42 year old German says, "This situation is very difficult for a young player who has just started the ATP tour. Unlike footballers, for example, tennis players, and also many other individual athletes, are completely responsible for themselves. Trainers, fitness trainers, physiotherapists - the player has to bear the costs himself. This is not the case in team sports. Footballers have their monthly salary, a tennis player does not know that, we live from the prize money at the tournaments. All the cancellations, however, reduce the income, and it then becomes extremely difficult, especially for those who are still at the beginning of their careers. Maybe the ATP or the ITF have to think about whether this system should not be changed. Unfortunately, there always have to be extreme cases to talk about such things. But finding a fair system that secures everyone will be difficult to develop. Tennis is an individual sport. But maybe now is the moment when everyone has to sit down."

Kiefer adds that even on the physical side, the younger players will find the shutdown difficult as they may not have the same access to equipment at home. "Here, too, the young players are particularly hard hit. Experienced athletes who can also afford it have their gyms, their tennis courts at home and can keep fit there, so to speak. But the youngsters are restless and superior. Playing for a Federer, a Nadal, a Djokovic because they want to play, because they have fun, not because they want money is different. They have all earned enough from their great success. But the boys are under pressure, they have to do something to keep going. A talent that maybe worked its way up to the top 100 last year and then had the goal of qualifying for the big tournaments, it has now become extremely difficult."

Kiefer adds that the current suspension works very well for someone like Roger Federer, who would have anyways skipped the clay court season and can also extend his career for another year now. "Federer fans can be happy, because he has already announced that he wants to be there next year, too, at the Olympics. The 2020 clay court season would have suspended Roger anyway.. Now he has time to regenerate properly, to give his body time to relax. Of course, all athletes are now lacking in game practice, not just in tennis. But when it comes to fitness, the professionals in most sports should actually be in top shape. Nothing should fail because of this.

The German's clothing company NK #Kiwifash is also working on making masks during the current global health crisis. "Along with Holger Gartz, with whom I have been selling my own collection under my label "NK #kiwifash" since 2018, we had the idea: makeshift mouth and nose protection masks, hand-made in Germany. Now that's important. I was thrilled and told him that we can also distribute the masks through my channels to reach more people. They are only sold through my online shop. The demand is great. Around 300 to 500 masks are hand-sewn every day, they are very well received - at the end of the day it is also a self-protection that should help people. I think for many it was also crucial that we produce in Germany - and that the masks are reusable, simply had to be washed."

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3aja2o6