Mikhail Youzhny weighs in on Novak Djokovic's player relief fund initiative
Former Russian tennis player Mikhail Youzhny has weighted on Novak Djokovic's proposal to support the player relief fund.
Recently, ATP Players Council President Djokovic proposed that top-100 players each donate from $5,000-30,000 on a sliding scale to support the player relief fund.
The world No. 1 also proposed that top-20 doubles players make their contribution as the money gathered would be distributed to the lower-ranked players hit by the Tour suspension.
Youzhny, who retired in 2018, thinks the lower-ranked players should be supported during the Tour suspension but underlines that something things needs to be made clear.
In an interview with Sport-Express Russia, Youzhny said: "Why top-100 but not No. 101? Who determines the size of donations? Who decides which players are to be supported?
"Are we helping young, up-and-coming players or older ones, stuck at 250-300 for five-ten years? That's not right. If you want to help—launch charity foundation, then those who'd like to donate could do it. But you can't force players do that just because they are high ranked."
In interview with @sportexpress, Mikhail Youzhny calls the idea of compelling Top 100 players to donate to relief fund 'populist.' 'Why Top 100 but not No. 101? Who determines the size of donations? Who decides which players are to be supported?'
— Oleg S. (@AnnaK_4ever) May 3, 2020
'Are we helping young, up-and-coming players or older ones, stuck at #250-300 for five-ten years? That's not right. If you want to help—launch charity foundation, then those who'd like to donate could do it. But you can't force players do that just because they are high ranked.'
— Oleg S. (@AnnaK_4ever) May 3, 2020
Former world No. 8 Youzhny now works with rising Canadian star Denis Shapovalov.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2W5Vh4b
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