ITF and Slams announce financial grant for wheelchair tennis players

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the Grand Slams have committed more than $300,000 towards financial aid for wheelchair tennis.

Through this fund, the ITF and the four Slams aim to provide grants to not only players but also to hosts of national association tournaments who have been affected because of the stoppage of the wheelchair tennis tour and events because of the ongoing pandemic. As it stands, the tennis tour across ITF, ATP and WTA has been paused from 12th March up to 31st July. Most events during this period have been cancelled and postponed to the next season, i.e. 2021 including the Championships at Wimbledon. However, some events – including the French Open – are under consideration to be shifted to a suitable time this season, once it resumes.

With respect to the wheelchair tennis tour, a total of 88 events have been annulled in this period.

Details of ITF and Slams' Fund for Wheelchair Tennis Players

According to the ITF, players who are ranked within the top-20 of the men’s and women’s open division and top-15 in the men’s and women’s quad division in the wheelchair tennis tour rankings and who have earned less than $100,000 can apply for the grant.

This fund follows the Player Relief Programme that was instituted by the ITF and the Slams to help the lower-ranked players in the tour. As per the stipulations of the Player Relief Programme, around 800 players across men’s, women’s and doubles tours will be helped financially to tide over the ongoing crisis period.

Accordingly, the ATP said it would provide $8,650 to players ranked between 101st and 500th place in the ranking in two separate instalments. Doubles players ranked between 51st and 75th in the rankings will receive 50% of this amount. The WTA will give $10,400 – again, in two separate instalments – to singles players ranked above the 500th place and doubles players ranked above the 175th place.

Earlier, the ITF also announced it would provide financial compensation to players ranked between 500-700 in the rankings.

Previously, during the initial days of the tours’ stopping, world no. 1 Novak Djokovic along with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal had proposed to help the lower-ranked players through a player-raised fund in which the top-ranked players would contribute money to help those ranked lower down the order. However, several players were not in favour of this decision stating that it wasn’t the players’ responsibility but that of the tours’ to provide for their lower-ranked colleagues. The ITF and the Slams have done well to rise to the occasion. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2XNWfSm