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$240,000,000 Worth Novak Djokovic Raises His Voice for Financially Struggling Tennis Players as He Dishes Out a ‘Failure of Sport’ Verdict

Published 09/23/2023, 6:26 PM EDT

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Novak Djokovic is a player that is known for both, his on-court pursuits and off-court deeds. Recently, the Serbian player created history after he bagged the 24th Grand Slam of his career. With his stupendous achievements on the court, he has been an example for the upcoming players to follow. The Djoker, who holds a staggering net worth of $240 million, has always been upfront when it comes to supporting the players who need either financial or help of any sort. Now, he has once again brought up the disheartening issue.

In a recent interview, he highlighted how the upcoming players are struggling to make an impact on the spirit. The Serbian also commented on some factors that do not allow aspiring players to flourish much in the ATP scene.

Novak Djokovic shares the problems shared by players in tennis

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In a statement, tennis legend Novak Djokovic has taken a firm stance on behalf of the often-overlooked lower-ranked players in the sport. Djokovic, who himself rose from humble beginnings in conflict-torn Serbia, understands the challenges faced by those on the lower rungs of professional tennis.

He shed light on the reality that restricts many aspiring players worldwide, where financial problems stop their progress. Djokovic highlighted the journey of funding travel expenses, lacking the support of a federation, and not having the resources to secure coaches and physiotherapists. He also emphasized how the majority of players globally share this struggle.

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“I was in their shoes, I understand the struggle. I understand the difficulties of paying the costs for travel if you don’t have the backing of a strong federation, which 90% or even more of the players around the world don’t have, & not having the budget to pay for coaches & physiotherapists,” said Novak Djokovic in the interview. “It’s less than 400 players max for a sport that is super global & then it’s one of the most-watched sports on the planet. That’s poor. That’s a failure for our sport,” he further added.

Drawing attention to the vast differences in earnings within the sport, Djokovic pointed out that the focus is often solely on the prize money awarded to the winners of major tournaments. However, he urges the tennis community and fans to acknowledge the efforts of the countless men and women, both in singles and doubles, who struggle to make ends meet.

As Novak Djokovic shares the concerns that tennis players face, his organization continues to battle with affirmative action. He started the PTPA in partnership with Vasek Pospisil with the aim of standing up on behalf of players’ interests.

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Djokovic started PTPA back in 2019 with the aim of helping fellow players

Novak Djokovic, back in 2019 started the PTPA, which stands for the Professional Tennis Players’ Association. It was founded primarily with the aim of providing players a chance to unite for unique causes for their own betterment. What initially started as a great movement faced some backlash from some of the prominent names in the game like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. However, despite the difference in opinion, the initiatives from the 24-time Grand Slam winner flourished. He has empowered aspiring players to stand a chance at casting their voices while opposing the inequalities that they face in the sport.

via Reuters

Thus, Djokovic has always been upfront when it comes to helping new and upcoming players flourish in tennis. With his recent statements, it has become more and more clear that the Serb is drawing attention to a problem that has been heavily overlooked by the authorities in the sport.

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Written by:

Akshat Gaur

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Akshat Gaur is a Tennis Writer at EssentiallySports. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in 2021 and has been writing since then. With over two years of experience in the world of sports journalism, specifically tennis journalism, Akshat is someone who is immensely passionate about covering the ATP and the WTA Tour.
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Edited by:

Mitali Dey