The new chair of the association that runs men’s tennis wants to share out wealth more evenly Of the top 500 players in the world, the annual median income for men is $124,000 and $80,000 for women.
Andrea Gaudenzi knows the glories and struggles of professional tennis. The Italian player scored victories against Roger Federer and Pete Sampras, two of the game’s greatest champions, before retiring in 2003. The financial gains were not as good as those career-defining wins, though. “It is a bit of an elite sport,” he said. “I was mad when I was playing because you look at soccer players in the second league in Italy. They were making more and I was in the top 20 in the world.” Mr Gaudenzi is now in a position to alter that balance. Last year, he was appointed new chair of ATP, the body in charge of men’s tennis. Alongside other tennis organisations, it is preparing a multimillion-dollar relief fund to prop up hundreds of players suffering a steep loss of income as tournaments have been shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic. Even before the Covid-19 outbreak halted matches, many tennis players were struggling financially.
Big sponsorship deals for stars such as Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams place them among the world’s highest-earning athletes. However, the vast majority of professional players below them rely on prize money won from a gruelling and expensive tour of tournaments worldwide.
Of the top 500 male and female players, the elite group of tennis players in the world, the annual median income for men is $124,000 and $80,000 for women. But the sport’s wealth flows towards those at the top. About a quarter of professional female players make less than $25,000, below the median salaries of workers in Latvia, Greece and Chile, according to the OECD.
Meanwhile, a quarter of professional male players make less than $40,000 a year from prize money, roughly equivalent to the wages of a secretary or a truck driver in the US, according to the US Bureau of Labor statistics.
These earnings do not factor in costs, such as paying for coaching, equipment and year-round travel expenses. An injury that takes a player out of the game for months can be a devastating financial hit. Reaching one of the sport’s four annual Grand Slams — the most prestigious and lucrative tournaments — is crucial to a player’s prospects in continuing on the tour. In 2019, the 128 men and women who lost in the first round of Wimbledon each earned £45,000. Last year’s men’s singles winner, Novak Djokovic and ladies’ champion Simona Halep, took away £2.35m each. The ATP and Grand Slam organisers have responded, steadily increasing the amount of prize money available to players over recent years. There have been larger percentage increases for those knocked out in the early stages of tournaments.
Mr Gaudenzi insists that tennis should be a meritocracy; the better a player is, the more they earn. But he says the coronavirus-induced crisis is resulting in a larger rethink of the sport’s financial inequalities. “The winner of the tournament needs to earn more than the first round loser,” he said, but added: “You can redistribute the pie more evenly.”
Source: FT
Coronavirus Testing Basics
/in COVID /by RobYou’ve probably heard a lot about coronavirus testing recently. There are two different types of tests –diagnostic tests and antibody tests. A diagnostic test can show if you have an active coronavirus infection and should take steps to quarantine or isolate yourself from others. An antibody test looks for antibodies that are made by the immune system in response to a threat, such as a specific virus.
Learn more about the different types of tests and the steps involved.
RETURN OF BADGE
/in Badge, Club Captain /by RobGood news for all our members with Badge to begin on June 6 and continue each Saturday with no breaks. Finals day will be September 19.
There are restrictions with no socializing afterwards and other safety measures. Hopefully before June 6 restrictions maybe eased a little more. All Badge players are asked to comply fully. Any breach will reflect badly on our club.
There will be two courts available for Social play each Saturday from 1130AM to 230pm. By early June we should have a procedure in place again to manage Saturday Social.
In the meantime Badge Teams are encouraged to practise together so we are all ready for a flying start.
All bookings are still to be made through Scott and Tennis Centre until Badge begins on June 6.
Please remember social distancing when arriving and leaving the courts. On arrival please wait on the grass or in the grandstand whilst maintaining your 1.5 metres and don’t wait around near the office. Also please exit by the gate on Court 4.
We are all in this together and will all exit quicker together if compliant.
Enjoy your tennis
Denis Crowley
Manly Lawn Tennis Club Captain
Sydney Badge Recommences June 6
/in Badge, COVID /by RobDue to recent announcements from Government and in line with the new Guidelines for community play released by Tennis NSW, we are pleased to announce the recommencement of the Sydney Badge Competition to commence on SATURDAY, 6th JUNE.
The details of the competition will be as follows:
Revised Saturday Badge – Fact SheetCommunity Tennis Guidelines – 13th MayThe next steps:
a. Teams would be accepting to play in the current competition setup, and abiding by the above regulations.
b. No grading requests will be considered
c. Any team member changes should be managed by the Badge Delegate through League Manager.
d. Further details on the Thursday Competition to be considered once team responses are confirmed.
a. Please note: some re-grading may be necessary to ensure competitive divisions. This will be carried out by the Sydney Badge Panel. No appeals regarding these changes will be considered.
Please note all Badge enquiries should be sent to your Badge Delegate in the first instance. We thank-you for your support in the Sydney Badge Competition and our staff members will be in-touch with Badge Delegates shortly to assist you with your competition entry.
Kind Regards.
TNSW Competitions Team
Limited Doubles Play Starts Saturday 16 May
/in Club News, COVID /by RobDear Members,
As of this Friday, 15th May, the New South Wales government have advised that a number of restrictions will be lifted in regards to social gathering and outdoor recreation. Core to this is the allowing of outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people. Please note that we are still awaiting the final Public Health Orders, so these published guidelines may be subject to small changes and revisions once these are released.
The Club has received the advice from Tennis NSW which is summarised below. You can access the updated Community Play guidelines here.
1. Stay at home if you:
If you are in a high risk health category, then you should not be administering or playing tennis at any time during this period. The Federal Government have listed the following as high-risk categories:
2. Social distancing
The rule of keeping 1.5 metres away from other people is still in place
3. Play
4. The Clubhouse will remain closed
Showers and change rooms to be closed. Toilets are for emergencies only
New Arrangements at MLTC
THIS IS NOT A RESUMPTION OF NORMAL PLAYING ARRANGEMENTS
The following rules and guidelines will apply.
Any breaches by Members or court hirers will be severely dealt with, as the Club is open to serious fines if Government guidelines are not adhered to.
1. Members must book courts for Members’ play times (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) through the Manly Tennis Centre (MTC) – Play will be singles and Doubles (4 persons per court max.).
As a reminder, here are Member Court times. These may vary somewhat under the current arrangements but provide a reminder to members of roughly when they can book.
2. The Clubhouse will remain closed.
3. Court time is limited. One hour per booking.
4. Players must bring their own balls.
5. Players must leave the club surrounds as soon as they have completed their match. Entry will be via the front gate on Raglan St and exit via the gate on Court 4.
6. Players cannot come down the court in hope of finding a hitting partner. All matches must be organised beforehand. Any infractions by members in this regard will be severely dealt with as the Club is open to serious fines if Government guidelines are not adhered to.
7. Players must bring their own water bottle.
8. Players are responsible for their own hygiene etiquette, and must comply with ALL COVID 19 rules and regulations.
9. Court opening times are determined by the MTC and may be shorter than usual.
10. Members play must be booked.
11. No visitors are allowed during Members’ playing time.
12. Players can play outside of Members’ time but the normal rules of the Club will apply (click here for court policy). If Members want to book a court outside of club hours so they can guarantee a time of play, they will need to hire the court. If you are playing with a non-Club member you will also need to hire the court.
13. You must always check with Scott (MTC) before playing at any time.
Craig Withell
President
Manly Lawn Tennis Club
mob. 0409-116-220
[email protected]
Tennis NSW Updated Guidelines May 13
/in Club News, COVID /by RobFirstly, we would like to thank you all for your commitment to ensuring our tennis community has remained safe and healthy during this challenging period. Our commitment to our guidelines and the Public Health Orders has allowed tennis to continue, albeit in a limited form, and this has been recognised by our Government partners.
As of this Friday, the New South Wales government have advised that a number of restrictions will be lifted in regards to social gathering and outdoor recreation. Core to this is the allowing of outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people. Please note that we are still awaiting the final Public Health Orders, so these published guidelines may be subject to small changes and revisions once these are released.
Ahead of the new legislation being released, Tennis NSW are pleased to issue an updated set of guidelines for tennis clubs and venues that will be effective from 11.59pm on Thursday 14 May. You can access the updated Community Play guidelines here.
You will note that we are recommending a resumption of doubles play but also allowing group coaching in small numbers and the resumption of intra & inter-club competition all assuming that the Public Health Orders can continue to be observed.
In regards to coaching, our recommendation is for a maximum of 4 students to each coach per court (or half court in the case of red ball coaching). This has been set deliberately below the 10 persons per court position to ensure venues can still comfortably adhere to social distancing protocols when we factor in the attendance of parents and guardians. We ask that you give this strong consideration when considering the resumption of your group coaching activities.
As we start on the road back, the team here at Tennis NSW have compiled a wide range of resources and tools to assist you and your club to plan for your re-opening or expansion of activities across social play, competition and coaching. These resources include the following and can all be found on our website:
Our ongoing commitment to these guidelines and to operating our clubs and venues in a safe and considered manner will be critical as we make our way back from this situation. Your support will be key to ensure tennis can return stronger than before.
If you have any questions regarding the changes we are making, the updated guidelines or just need help in getting your club or venue open again, then please don’t hesitate to contact your Tennis NSW Club Development Officer or contact us directly at [email protected].
Thank you again for all you have done so far, we are truly appreciative.
Regards,
Lawrence
Roadmap to COVIDSafe Australia
/in COVID /by RobThree-step pathway for easing restrictions.
AIS Framework for Rebooting Sport – Summary
/in COVID, News /by RobHigh level descriptors of three levels (Levels A, B, C) of activities and associated hygiene measures are recommended. Detailed descriptions of recommended sport specific activities at each level are outlined in Appendices A and B.
Tennis Level A: Running/aerobic/agility training (solo), resistance training (solo), skills training (solo) — e.g. serving only, hitting with ball machine.
Tennis Level B: Full training on court, singles or doubles.
Tennis Level C: Full training and competition
Tennis takes a swing at making players’ earnings fairer
/in News /by RobThe new chair of the association that runs men’s tennis wants to share out wealth more evenly Of the top 500 players in the world, the annual median income for men is $124,000 and $80,000 for women.
Andrea Gaudenzi knows the glories and struggles of professional tennis. The Italian player scored victories against Roger Federer and Pete Sampras, two of the game’s greatest champions, before retiring in 2003. The financial gains were not as good as those career-defining wins, though. “It is a bit of an elite sport,” he said. “I was mad when I was playing because you look at soccer players in the second league in Italy. They were making more and I was in the top 20 in the world.” Mr Gaudenzi is now in a position to alter that balance. Last year, he was appointed new chair of ATP, the body in charge of men’s tennis. Alongside other tennis organisations, it is preparing a multimillion-dollar relief fund to prop up hundreds of players suffering a steep loss of income as tournaments have been shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic. Even before the Covid-19 outbreak halted matches, many tennis players were struggling financially.
Big sponsorship deals for stars such as Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams place them among the world’s highest-earning athletes. However, the vast majority of professional players below them rely on prize money won from a gruelling and expensive tour of tournaments worldwide.
Of the top 500 male and female players, the elite group of tennis players in the world, the annual median income for men is $124,000 and $80,000 for women. But the sport’s wealth flows towards those at the top. About a quarter of professional female players make less than $25,000, below the median salaries of workers in Latvia, Greece and Chile, according to the OECD.
Meanwhile, a quarter of professional male players make less than $40,000 a year from prize money, roughly equivalent to the wages of a secretary or a truck driver in the US, according to the US Bureau of Labor statistics.
These earnings do not factor in costs, such as paying for coaching, equipment and year-round travel expenses. An injury that takes a player out of the game for months can be a devastating financial hit. Reaching one of the sport’s four annual Grand Slams — the most prestigious and lucrative tournaments — is crucial to a player’s prospects in continuing on the tour. In 2019, the 128 men and women who lost in the first round of Wimbledon each earned £45,000. Last year’s men’s singles winner, Novak Djokovic and ladies’ champion Simona Halep, took away £2.35m each. The ATP and Grand Slam organisers have responded, steadily increasing the amount of prize money available to players over recent years. There have been larger percentage increases for those knocked out in the early stages of tournaments.
Mr Gaudenzi insists that tennis should be a meritocracy; the better a player is, the more they earn. But he says the coronavirus-induced crisis is resulting in a larger rethink of the sport’s financial inequalities. “The winner of the tournament needs to earn more than the first round loser,” he said, but added: “You can redistribute the pie more evenly.”
Source: FT
COVID-19 Testing @ Manly
/in COVID /by RobA pop-up COVID-19 testing clinic is now available at Manly Town Hall. NSW Health is asking anyone with a cough, fever, sore throat or shortness of breath living in the Northern Beaches LGA to be tested for COVID-19. NSW Health is increasing COVID-19 testing, particularly around areas where there are some suspected community transmissions with an unknown source.
The clinic will operate between 9am and 4pm seven days a week and testing is free, as it is at the 60 other clinics run by NSW Health. No referral from a GP is required.
Those presenting to the clinic should enter via Manly Town Hall main entrance, 1 Belgrave Street, or follow the signage.
If attending the testing clinic, people who have symptoms should wear a surgical face mask, if possible, and practise social distancing when travelling to the testing centre.
There are clinics also available at Mona Vale and Northern Beaches Hospitals. For full details visit NSW Health.
USTA Player and Facility Guidelines
/in COVID, News /by RobThe USTA recognizes that the coronavirus has been affecting different parts of the country in different ways and with different timing. We therefore believe it will be possible for people to return to playing tennis safely in some cities and states sooner than others.
Below are two “Playing Tennis Safely” documents, one geared to players and one geared to tennis facilities, that have been developed by the USTA in conjunction with its Medical Advisory Group and its Industry partners.
These documents provide extensive guidelines for the safe return to the courts. By following these guidelines as well as those of local governments and health agencies, facilities and players will be able to make informed decisions as to when play can recommence.
Please note that the local decisions on phased opening will not apply to USTA-sanctioned programs. These programs will remain suspended until at least May 31 as previously announced.
Patrick J. Galbraith Chairman of the Board and President
United States Tennis Association
COVID-19 Playing Tennis Safely – Player Tips and Recommendations
COVID-19 Playing Tennis Safely – Facility and Programming Recommendations
March 2020 Tennis Seniors Vetscore
/in News /by RobClick download link for copy.
Limited Play Starts Wednesday 15 April
/in Club News /by RobMLTC Committee has agreed to reopen the MLTC courts for use from Wednesday 15th April. This decision has been made in light of advice from the NSW Department of Sport and the NSW Dept. of Health.
THIS WILL NOT BE A RESUMPTION OF NORMAL PLAYING ARRANGEMENTS
The following rules and guidelines will apply.
Any infractions by Members or court hirers will be severely dealt with, as the Club is open to serious fines if Government guidelines are not adhered to.
1. Members must book courts for Members’ play times (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) through the Manly Tennis Centre (MTC) – play will be singles only (2 persons per court).
2. The Clubhouse will be closed completely.
3. Play is limited to singles only – two people – no spectators.
4. Court time is limited to one hour per booking.
5. Players must bring their own balls.
6. Players must leave the club surrounds as soon as they have completed their match. Entry will be via the front gate on Raglan St and exit via the gate on Court 4.
7. Players cannot come down the court in hope of finding a singles opponent. All matches must be organised beforehand. Any infractions by members in this regard will be severely dealt with as the Club is open to serious fines if Government guidelines are not adhered to.
8. Players must bring their own water bottle.
9. Players are responsible for their own hygiene etiquette, and must comply with ALL COVID 19 rules and regulations.
10. Court opening times are determined by the MTC and may be shorter than usual.
11. Members’ Saturday play is singles only, and must be booked.
Bookings are available from 12pm to 5pm. Bookings can be made via the website (click here) or by calling MTC up until 11am on Saturday morning.
12. No visitors are allowed during Members’ playing time.
13. Players can play outside of Members’ time but the normal rules of the Club will apply (click here for court policy). If Members want to book a court outside of club hours so they can guarantee a time of play, they will need to hire the court. If you are playing with a non-Club member you will also need to hire the court.
14. You must always check with Scott (MTC) before playing at any time.
15. As a reminder, here are Member Court times. These may vary somewhat under the current arrangements but provide a reminder to members of roughly when they can book.
Craig Withell
President
Manly Lawn Tennis Club
mob. 0409-116-220
[email protected]