© Ella Ling

Andy Roddick

"No one wins if the players go on strike"

   

The Tennis Space

Sunday, 15 January 2012

With further suggestions of locker-room militancy – and the possibility of a strike at French Open and Wimbledon – Nick Bollettieri and Tim Henman tell The Tennis Space how any industrial action would affect the sport.

Bollettieri:
“No one wins if tennis players were to go on strike. It doesn’t matter who is right and who is wrong, it doesn’t help anyone. That would be a terrible situation – just look at what has been happening with the NBA. But I don’t think it’s likely that the players will strike as they have different agendas, different schedules, different responsibilities, different sponsors, and it’s going to be difficult to get everyone to agree. However, if a number of the leading players were to decide to strike, then that’s a different ballgame. But the public won’t be sympathetic – they will look at all the money, and wonder what is happening. It’s a political situation, and the players should have their voice, but a strike is not going to help anyone. The men’s game is in a great state now, and it’s not going to do the game any good for the players to put their rackets down.”

Henman:
“I don’t think that a strike has ever been a real possibility. I think that’s got blown out of proportion. I’m not sure that the ATP is in the best interests of the players, with 50 per cent for the players and 50 per cent for the tournaments. Why aren’t the players represented on their own? With the unity they have right now, that’s never been the case. I look at it from Wimbledon’s point of view, as I’m on the board, but I think what they get paid at Wimbledon is very, very good. I think there are other issues. The schedule at the US Open is wrong, with the first round played over three days, and both the semi-finals and the final of the men’s tournament over the final weekend. It has never been right. The players should have better representation to get that changed. They are looking at trying to shorten the schedule and that’s something the players feel strongly about. If the players say they want a shorter season, there might be someone on the tournament side who is worried about losing his job, so it’s very difficult to get anything done. Can someone like Andy Roddick be a figurehead for the players? You need people like him to voice their opinions.”

   
  • TennisFan

    These players need some perspective. They have chosen a career that offers untold riches if they are successful, but success takes sacrifice and comes at a price. If the schedule is too cluttered individual players need to take a break. If they are concerned about ranking points being lost, then play the week and give your best. Its an equal playing field. The only tournament that is an additional burden is the end of year tour finals – you have to be successful throughout the year to get there.

  • Ottawatennis

    I agree a strike does not help anybody – and I would not be worried too much about the top fifty players in the world other than maybe a very long season and the  issues discussed for the 8 players that make the semis of the US Open. I believe we need to help the top 50-400 players in the world make enough money on tour to be able to support themselves and make a living at the game. Give them a better chance to develop so that we have an even stronger field in the long run.