The authorities of tennis, ATP (male circuit), WTA (female circuit), ITF (International Federation) and the four Grand Slams, announced Tuesday to have collected 6 million dollars (5.53 million euros) intended to feed the solidarity fund for players in financial difficulty by stopping competitions due to the Covid-19.
According to several American media, the four Grand Slam tournaments - US Open, Australian Open, Roland-Garros and Wimbledon - would have contributed to this fund to the tune of 1 million dollars (922 million euros) each. ATP and WTA also reportedly contributed the same amount.
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- 20 Minutes Sport (@ 20minutesSport) May 5, 2020This sum will be divided between "about 800 singles and double ATP / WTA players who need financial support", explain the organizations managing tennis in a joint statement. "Eligibility for the player assistance program will take into account the player's ranking and his previous earnings," he added.
Tennis authorities have also specified that this sum could be added to "other funds collected through initiatives such as auctions, player donations, virtual tennis games and others", by encouraging this type of initiatives intended to feed the aid program.
The creation of this solidarity program for the most troubled players on the circuit was announced on April 21. The president of the players' council Novak Djokovic then called on the players to contribute to this fund, soon joined by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. The Austrian Dominic Thiem, world number 3, had however announced that he did not intend to participate in this initiative.
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