Novak Djokovic, the reigning world No 1 in tennis, has strongly criticized what he perceives as the “failure” within the sport that leaves hundreds of players struggling to make a livelihood. Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, has always been an advocate for the welfare of lower-ranked players, consistently urging tennis authorities to improve their financial situations.
In an interview, Djokovic emphasized his desire to leave a legacy as someone who fought for the well-being of everyone involved in tennis. He revealed that he had experienced financial struggles during his early career, making him empathetic towards the challenges faced by lower-ranked players. Witness the best tennis game ever with attractive betting odds from Nextbet.
“I was in their shoes; I understand the struggle,” Djokovic explained. “I understand the difficulties of paying the costs for travel if you don’t have the backing of a strong federation, which 90 per cent or even more of the players around the world don’t have, and not having the budget to pay for coaches and physiotherapists. Coming from Serbia, I didn’t have any of that.”
Djokovic didn’t mince words when he criticized tennis authorities for making it exceptionally tough for players to earn a living. He pointed out that despite the sport’s global reach and immense popularity, fewer than 400 players can sustain themselves professionally. He described this as “poor” and a “failure” for the sport.
“And now I have influence, I have power, and I want to fight for better conditions,” Djokovic asserted. “We talk so much about how much money the US Open winners make, but we are not talking about how many players, both men and women, singles, doubles, all together, professionals live from this sport.”
Novak Djokovic’s commitment to improving the situation for tennis players goes beyond his words. In 2020, he co-founded the Professional Tennis Players’ Association with fellow player Vasek Pospisil to work towards creating a “better ecosystem” for lower-ranked players. His efforts have already yielded positive results, with the ATP introducing the ‘Baseline’ system, which ensures a minimum wage and injury pay for players ranked inside the top 250 in the world.
While Djokovic continues to excel on the court, he aspires to be remembered not only for his tennis achievements but also for his dedication to the welfare of fellow players and the sport as a whole. His legacy is one that aims to create a brighter future for tennis, both on and off the court. Get the latest updates from the world of tennis only on Nextbet Sports.
