“It’s Frustrating” – Donna Vekic Speaks About Challenges of Playing Palermo Open 2020

World number 24, Croatia’s Donna Vekic says that it has become impossible to make tennis fair for everyone due to the changing dynamics after the sport’s resumption. Vekic also spoke about the challenges of playing without her full support staff on-site with her.

Vekic, a WTA Player Council member says that they have not been able to help the lower-ranked players as well, which was one of the key goals.

“It’s very difficult to make it fair for everyone. It’s not very difficult, it’s literally impossible. That’s what we’ve been struggling a lot with,” Vekic said, speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing Palermo Open.

“It does not matter if you are representing the top-10, top-20 or top-50, we’ve all, as a council, been working to protect lower-ranked players, and this is something we have not been able to do,” Vekic added.

Donna Vekic unhappy about not having full team on-site

She also expressed that the decision on whether to play or not week after week has also been difficult and that the situation is not ideal at all.

The Croatian player also said that it has been frustrating for her to not have her entire support staff with her at events. The new guidelines restrict the number of team members a player can have on-site to just one.

“It’s a little bit frustrating to not being able to have my full team with me on-site. Other than that, I cannot and don’t want to complain about the hotels and the site as I know it is not easy financially for the tournament. Honestly, I’m really happy to be here. It’s just the restrictions on-site that are more frustrating to me,” Vekic expressed.

Vekic calls for ‘common sense’ from players

The 24-year-old said that common sense needs to prevail in this difficult period to contain the spread of the virus. “I don’t think players are going to go out in nightclubs and partying. If you want to go out for a walk, its normal. If we all have to over the next few months stay in the rooms and be only on-site, everyone will go insane,” she said.

“So to just have some common sense would be pretty good in this period,” Vekic added.

She went on to admit that she is not one to sit only in her hotel room if not playing a match and 90 percent of players do the same.

“Of course I’m careful and cautious, but I’m not going to pretend to be locked in the room all day when I’m not. I went for dinner in the city. We’re being careful and not being close to people, but I’m not locked in the room and 90 percent of players aren’t,” Vekic admitted.

“We don’t have a bubble here. Whereas in New York (there will be a bubble) and there will actually be fans and if everyone respects that and it makes sense, I’m all for it. If rules are contradicting each other then it makes sense,” Vekic further added.

Source  – Reem Abulleil YouTube

Also read – Belinda Bencic Pulls Out From Prague Open 2020 After Player Tested COVID-19 Positive in Palermo