
via Reuters
Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka during his third round match against France’s Hugo Gaston REUTERS/Charles Platiau

via Reuters
Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka during his third round match against France’s Hugo Gaston REUTERS/Charles Platiau
Many players have spoken out about tennis federations in an attempt to ensure that resources will be properly allocated. Stan Wawrinka has been the most recent voice who has harshly critiqued them for not sharing fair prize money with the players. The Swiss star cracked down on all tennis organizations in a recent interview where he shared his angry words.
Pay disparity in sports often occurs between the top players and the players further down the pack. It is even more prominent when one talks about tennis. Many top players over the years have tried to change the fact.
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Stan Wawrinka cracks down on Tennis Federations
If one looks at the history of corporations, one can find many instances of organizations turning corrupt and treating those under them harshly. Tennis organizations have come under fire recently for such a move. Stan Wawrinka recently interviewed with L’Équipe, which is a French daily newspaper. In his segment, he discussed the power that has been accumulated by the tennis federations, which has led to the mistreatment of players.

via Getty
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 03: Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland looks on in his singles match against Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan during day three of the ATP 250 Murray River Open at Melbourne Park on February 03, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images)
Wawrinka said, “They do not redistribute the enormous income they generate among the players. They accumulate too much power. The richer the federations are, the less money they offer to tennis players. The financial percentage they give to players of everything they bill is ridiculous.“
He then discussed their selfishness, “They only look out of their interest and have no desire to improve this sport on a global level. There will come a day when we tennis players will get fed up with this situation and say enough is enough.”
This year, the WTA also came under fire by many fans for mismanaging the WTA Finals. Many players complained about the playing conditions, which did not improve their image.
Along with the mistreatment, many players have also come out to talk about the pay disparity between the top players and those who rank on the lower end. However, many players have attempted to rectify the situation.
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Top players who aimed to improve prize money for early exits
The further down the rankings one goes, the more difficult it becomes to earn a living being a player. Early-round exits earn players significantly less than going ahead in the final stages or even winning a tournament. Such a scenario is present in all tournaments, even slams. But players like Roger Federer, Venus Williams, and Rafael Nadal have attempted to improve the situation by taking cuts.
Jim Courier, an American tennis legend, appeared in a podcast saying how they have gone to the organizers and said that the increment for the winner can be reduced to increase the payout for those who exit earlier. Their efforts have helped players down the rankings improve their lifestyles, but there is still a long way to go.
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With Stan Wawrinka speaking out about another injustice, public pressure is likely to build. The ATP, WTA, and ITF are likely to think about this amidst such pressure and listen more to the voices of the players.
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