At 10:16 am Justin Gimelstob has officially resigned his ATP Board of Directors position. There will be an election in two weeks for his replacement which could be Tim Mayotte or Brad Gilbert, both former ATP top ten players.
Gimelstob pled no contest to charges of a violent assault on the friend of his estranged wife Randy Kaplan on Halloween last year in Los Angeles, a fifty punch assault in front of Kaplan’s wife and child. Mrs. Kaplan was pregnant at the time and possibly lost the baby due to the stress of the attack.
Here is the statement Gimelstob released on Facebook…
I am resigning effective immediately from the ATP Board of Directors.
It has been an honor and a privilege to hold this position for the past 11 years. My job was to best represent the players, the ATP, and be a custodian of the sport. My choices and actions last Halloween night prohibit me from doing that at this time. My role is designed to work on behalf of the players and the sport and it is clear that I have now become a significant burden and distraction to both. That is not something that could or should continue. I’m heartbroken to walk away from something I love so much, but given the current climate I do not deserve to be in this position of influence.
For the better part of my life, tennis has been much more than my occupation, it has been my passion. I love the sport. It has given me so much personally and professionally, for which I am very grateful. Along the way I have had some successes and failures, and undoubtedly have made my share of mistakes. I sincerely hope that I can and will be judged by my complete body of work throughout my career on and off the court; my passion, my energy, and my tireless work on behalf of my constituents and the game.
Giving up or conceding is not in my DNA, but it has become clear that I need to take a step back – for the good of the players, the game and for myself. Solely for that reason, I now more than ever appreciate that people in elected positions of influence must be held to the highest standard of conduct. I breached that standard on a night last October. I have always taken responsibility for my role in the events that evening and will continue to do so. While I can, have, and will continue to dispute the way that evening has been depicted, the material matter is that my judgment that evening compromised the sport and the people that entrusted me with the authority to represent them. I am deeply saddened and remorseful that my actions have caused the sport, players, my colleagues, friends and family such a distraction. Actions have consequences and me stepping away from a role I cherished is one of them that I accept.
It has been an honor to represent the players, who I believe are the greatest athletes in the world. Thank you to the current Player Council and all the Player Council members throughout my 11 years as an ATP Board Member that have selflessly given their time to improve the sport. I want to thank all of my fellow Board Members – it has been a pleasure working with you all. I want to thank our incredible ATP staff and team, the ATP Tournaments and the entire tennis family for letting me be part of your inner circle.
I also want to acknowledge and thank my critics. I appreciate that in choosing this profession; whether on the court, in the television booth, or in the boardroom, critique and scrutiny come with the platform you are given. I respect your profession, your opinions, and appreciate your desire to hold everyone accountable to a standard that matches the access and opportunity we are given as stewards of the sport.
I hope that I have the opportunity in the future to contribute to the sport that I love and believe I can be an asset to once again. However I also appreciate that opportunity needs to be earned. I am committed to working on myself, dealing with the challenges in my personal life, and better equipping myself with the tools to handle the pain of losing my father and the ongoing litigation for equal custody of the most important thing in my life, my son.
Last night while processing all of this I fortunately was able to spend some time with someone I respect greatly. He comforted me with the belief that from periods of pain and suffering arise a great opportunity for personal growth. We reflected on “failure” and how failure is not something to fear but rather to embrace and from which to learn. Specifically the theory of “falling forward.” I sincerely hope to be able to do exactly that, learn from my mistakes and become the best version of myself, not just for me but more importantly for my son.
Sincerely, Justin Gimelstob
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1 2 Next »Dan Markowitz · May 1, 2019 at 8:44 pm
That’s a well-written and pretty touching statement. I can appreciate someone who made a mistake, is a fighter, doesn’t know how to give up, but is stepping away from the sport he loves to work on himself so he may represent himself and the sport better possibly in the future. Also, I think he’s sincere especially when he talks about his son who obviously is very devoted to and loves.
Hartt · May 2, 2019 at 7:29 am
Dan, does Justin Gimelstob show any real remorse for violently attacking a man a and threatening to kill him, in front of the victim’s wife and two-year-old child? Of course he cares about his own son, but what about the trauma he caused that little girl, not to mention likely causing Madison Kaplan to miscarry?
Scoop Malinowski · May 2, 2019 at 8:34 am
Dan, fancy words and well crafted PR statements are just smoke and mirrors, a disguise. This guy is a menace to society, to do what he did to Kaplan in front of his wife and daughter shows a deeply troubled, mentally sick man. No remorse for Kaplan and his family, only really concerned with himself, his son and his own future in pro tennis. We need to see a lot more from Gimelstob to repair his image, than this flowery self serving PR statement. How about humbling himself for a few years and teach kids tennis at a public park? Get on his hands and knees and apologize to Kaplan family and beg forgiveness?
Dan Markowitz · May 2, 2019 at 8:58 am
Well, let me put it this way, yesterday I was in my car with my son after one of his tennis matches (he won) and I was pulling onto the highway, and this guy in an SUV, although we were both going slowly and the traffic was slow in front of us, motored ahead and cut me off. I beeped at the guy and probably said something in the car like, “What a shithead!” and the guy stuck his hand out the window and gave me the finger.
Now I was tired. I’d been at work, went to wrong high school to watch Callum play, crossing back and forth over the Tappan Zee Bridge, but I hate when people won’t let someone come into traffic and cut you off. And I hate other unsympathetic moves like that and I don’t like getting the finger so I zoomed up to the guy and gave him the finger back and yelled a couple of choice words at him.
My son doesn’t like when I do this and he said to me, “Why do you have to be so aggressive?” Now, I’ve never done anything close to what Justin Gimelstob once did, but I threw a punch (one) once at a tennis pro at a club I was the head pro at for trying to get me fired. I was incensed. Gimelstob was incensed. I know the pain of losing my father suddenly too. I’m not condoning his behavior or saying he shouldn’t take a leave from the game, but this guy Kaplan, in what I’ve read, doesn’t seem like a wonderful guy. That didn’t give Gimelstob reason to attack him the way he did, but Gimelstob seemed to go mad and it’s not like he shot Kaplan or ran him over with a car.
So I’m glad Gimelstob won’t be on Tennis Channel anymore (I don’t really care who runs the ATP Board; its out of my purview), but I don’t look at Gimel like he’s Charles Manson now.
Scoop Malinowski · May 2, 2019 at 9:09 am
But he could be a Charles Manson in the embryo stage, he could evolve and his outrageous anger issues could evolve into something even more despicable than what he did to Kaplan. It’s good that the public outrage was so great here that it beat Gimelstob into submission. You can be sure it was the massive outcry of the public on social media and from a select few players like Wawrinka, Murray, Hewitt, Martina, Mauresmo, this is what forced Gim to submit, he clearly wanted to maintain all his power and positions in tennis, he thought he could get through this with the plea deal of no contest and some media spin. He actually thought he could get through this and remain on the board and eventually take Kermode’s job. But the public reacted so strongly and justice prevailed. The judge giving him community service and probation was an outrage and disgusting injustice for the Kaplan family. Thank God Wawrinka and Murray and the others had the sense to speak out. Shame on Federer and Djokovic for saying nothing.
catherine · May 2, 2019 at 11:31 am
I’m not interested in Gimelstob, don’t know much about him, but this is a truly mind-numbing wallow in self-pity.
Dkoko is a politician. So is Fed. They keep their powder dry for future plans.
Franklin · May 2, 2019 at 1:27 pm
I applaud Gimbelstob for this well thought-out response. It is clear that he understands the ramifications of his actions and I support him leaving his post. It is a very honorable thing for him to do.
As Dan says, Gimbelstob is a fighter and I have no doubt that this is a temporary setback for him. His supporters in the U.S> tennis establishment will not desert him and will no doubt help him through this trying time. Hopefully after a year or two, he can return to the ATP Tour and continue to better the sport for all of us.
Scoop Malinowski · May 2, 2019 at 4:03 pm
Franklin, do you have any consideration or sympathy for what Kaplan and his family have suffered through? Because of what Gimelstob inflicted on them because he lost self control. Any concern about the next time and next victims of when Gimelstob blows his stack? If he can prove himself an asset and not a disturbing liability to the sport, he should get a second chance, but that will take time to prove a change of character. His actions were reprehensible and there are many other better candidates to uplift the sport. Franklin do you feel Ray Moore and Doug Adler should be given second chances like Gimelstob?
Hartt · May 2, 2019 at 7:17 pm
I can’t believe that some people are defending Justin Gimelstob, and think he should return to positions of authority in tennis after a brief time away. This incident, although the most reprehensible, is not the first time Gimelstob has acted with violence or malice.
In 2008 he made comments about Anna Kournikova during a radio interview, saying: “She’s a bitch . . . I just despise her to the maximum level just below hate.” They were to play in an upcoming exhibition match, and he said he wanted to hit her hard in the midriff when serving to her. “If she’s not crying when she walks off the court I have not done my job.” Plus, “I wouldn’t mind having my younger brother, who’s kind of a stud, nail her and then reap the benefits of that.” (The Telegraph, June, 2008)
Also in 2008 he made homophobic comments to Out Magazine.
In 2010 the Tennis Channel briefly suspended Gimelstob because of comments he made about President Obama. It sounds like there were so many furious emails about it that the Tennis Channel was forced to take action. (info from Sports Business Journal, Aug. 30, 2010.)
In 2016 his wife got a restraining order against him, citing assault and harassment. Gimelstob also got a restraining order against her, but somehow I think she had more to fear from him than the other way around.
He was accused of threatening an opponent during a paddle tennis match. According to Cracked Racquets, Nov. 30, 2018, “At the end of the match he tried to grab his opponent by the throat. People from outside the court had to step in to break up the altercation.”
You can imagine that there have been other incidents that were never reported.
Justin Gilestob’s statements since the court decision have been mainly about him, how this action, which he inflicted on another person, has affected him. He has shown no real understanding of the incredible harm he did to the Kaplan family. Or even the trauma he must have caused to the other families, including children, who witnessed the assault while out on that Halloween night.
Dan Markowitz · May 2, 2019 at 9:01 pm
You make a compelling case, Hartt. Why do you think such seemingly good guys like Isner and Mardy Fish and Jim Courier who were all at Gimel’s wedding support the guy so much?
Scoop Malinowski · May 2, 2019 at 11:11 pm
How about gimelstob verbally abusing a 70 yr old ballboy volunteer so viciously at a challenger that the old man cried on court. Mike cation revealed this.
Franklin · May 2, 2019 at 11:12 pm
I agree that Gimbelstob should step down and take responsibility for his actions and he has done that with this strong statement. What happened that Halloween night was a terrible situation that should not have occurred. I believe we will learn more of the particulars when the civil suit comes forth and a more complete picture emerges.
If Gimbelstob were not being defended by so many powerful people in the sport, it would easy to dismiss him.
But that is not the case. Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish continue to stick by his side, as does John Isner. He is hardly a mysogynist as a friend to Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Venus Williams and Lindsay Davenport. The esteemed tennis writer Jon Wertheim and Tennis Channel’s Ken Solomon speak highly of him, as do Darren Cahill and Novak Djokovic. The tennis writer Cindy Schmerler is another person who can vouch for him. The character of all these people cannot be questioned. They are all titans in the sport of tennis in the United States and this is important to remember. And all of them support him to the fullest extent.
I don’t think we should take his politics into account since he is hardly the only person to criticize Obama, and I am sure many people would support such criticisms since he is a major supporter of the GOP. Certainly he should take some time off and let Roddick, Wertheim, Solomon and others help him before he returns to the scene.
catherine · May 3, 2019 at 1:51 am
In Britain Gimelstob would’ve been sacked instantly for the comments about Kournikova. Vile. I can’t understand why he was allowed to continue his career as though nothing had happened.
As I said, and I agree with Hartt, his statement is just one long wallow in morbid, and boastful, self-justification for indefensible behaviour. Not a thought for anyone outside himself. There’s a clinical term for people like Gimelstob but I’m not going to use it.
I bet he was pushed to resign – probably by some of those ‘titans of tennis’ who realised the way the wind was blowing and didn’t want to be blown away with it.
Hartt · May 3, 2019 at 6:46 am
As far as people like Roddick and Isner liking Gimelstob, presumably he does have some good qualities. But that does not negate the streak of uncontrolled anger and violence he has shown more than once. As Catherine said, there is a clinical term for people who exhibit the traits he has shown. (And those people can be very charming.) If that is the case, 52 weeks of anger management therapy and the help of his friends won’t change that.
Bill Simons, on the Inside Tennis site, has 2 powerful pieces about Gimelstob.
http://www.insidetennis.com/2019/04/enough-is-enough-tennis-must-stand-up-to-justin-gimelstob/
“I’ve known Justin for two decades. And although I often criticized his problematic episodes, we were still friendly colleagues. A while after his Halloween brawl with Kaplan, we were on the phone. “Bill, believe me – stand by me,” was his message. He described Kaplan as a complete liar and a terrible character. He told me that there was far more to this, and everyone was going to look very foolish. Justin claimed the charges were based on hearsay and minor facts and said it was a manipulated, sensationalized story for money. He assured me, “My side will come out.”
It never did. Justin told me that the truth would fully vindicate him. It hasn’t.”
In a second piece, Simons goes through Gimelstob’s statement.
http://www.insidetennis.com/2019/05/gimelstobs-resignations-and-reflections-on-a-shameful-period-in-our-sport/
“Justin says, “People in positions of power must be held to the highest standard of conduct.” Sure, but all people should be held to high standards. Justin stated, “I have always taken responsibility for my role in the events.” But from the time he referred to WTA players as “beached whales,” to the time he said he wanted his brother “to nail” Anna Kournikova, to issues relating to the attacks on different men, his relationship with his former wife and with Kaplan himself, Justin has continually provided, at best, nuanced explanations. rather than simple, aware and heartfelt apologies demonstrating full accountability. Worse yet, he often has counter-attacked his alleged victims with abusive, profanity-laden comments and/or legal initiatives.”
Hartt · May 3, 2019 at 7:04 am
For some reason, my last post is not appearing.
I referred to two articles by Bill Simons on Inside Tennis. For now, will just post the links.
http://www.insidetennis.com/2019/04/enough-is-enough-tennis-must-stand-up-to-justin-gimelstob/
http://www.insidetennis.com/2019/05/gimelstobs-resignations-and-reflections-on-a-shameful-period-in-our-sport/
catherine · May 3, 2019 at 7:55 am
Hartt – your post has appoeared. You could try refreshing the page – I have to do this all the time.
Here’s a link re Stan’s letter to The Times (ubi tennis)
https://www.ubitennis.net/2019/05/stan-wawrinka-slams-atp-management-gimelstob-case/
Scoop Malinowski · May 3, 2019 at 8:19 am
Simons really slayed Gimelstob with this. It’s beyond comprehension how it even got to this point.he should have been run out of the sport in November. meanwhile, plans are probably afoot to bring him back in asap. Gimelstob has to be the most polarizing, villainous figure in tennis maybe even tennis history, overtaking Marcelo Rios, Bob Hewitt.
Hartt · May 3, 2019 at 8:22 am
Catherine, I had tried refreshing the page, even turned off my computer, and the post still did not appear, and now suddenly it has. Computers!
Scoop Malinowski · May 3, 2019 at 8:24 am
Franklin please make a full disclosure about your connection and or friendship with Gimelstob. And your actual identity. For you to be making such an adamant and sympathetic defense for Gimelstob, I think it’s obvious you are a friend or paid shill of Gimelstob. To defend his actions and call for his return to power, while ignoring any concerns for Kaplan famil, is a bad look for you. Very bad. Do you have the courage to reveal your actual identity?
Dan Markowitz · May 3, 2019 at 9:48 am
Wow, after reading the two articles by Simons and more detail about the Gimelstob attack, Gimelstob looks like he got off awfully light with the court sentence. Simons makes a good point, if Gimel wasn’t rich and didn’t have the “best lawyer,” God forbid if he was black, he’d be in jail for at least ten years.
What an absolute lout! If the Tennis Channel allows him to come back and be a part of that channel, I’d send in a protest letter. All that said, Scoop, the idea Franklin is a “shill”–I like that word by the way. Bravo!”–for Gimel is probably way off line. I don’t think Gimel is scouring our little web site and hiring guys like Franklin to voice support for him. Franklin I believe you are really not one of Gimel’s brothers or John Isner.
Hartt · May 3, 2019 at 12:07 pm
Dan I was very glad to see your post, and hope that many people read Simons’ articles. I came upon them by chance, and they provide an excellent summary of what has transpired. The fact that Simons said they had been “friendly colleagues” adds weight to his views.
Hartt · May 3, 2019 at 12:48 pm
I have so much respect for Stan for speaking out strongly about Gimelstob and the lack of response by the tennis world, especially in light of this tweet: “When they tell you not to talk about it BUT you just can’t help yourself… ????” (Stan Wawrinka twitter) It makes you wonder just who “they” were.
Scoop Malinowski · May 3, 2019 at 5:00 pm
I wonder if it was the ATP trying to protect Gimelstob or Djokovic and his alliance? Absolutely despicable that some sort of cabal tried to silence Wawrinka but he said F you and spoke what needed to be said. All this information and Simons insights are making it seem like Gimelstob is the all time worst villainous figure in tennis history, worse than Bob Hewitt, worse than Marcelo Rios.
Sherry · May 3, 2019 at 6:00 pm
Scoop – your comment about Doug Adler suggests you do not know that he was exonerated by ESPN. His comment, inaccurately reported by Ben Rothenberg, that Venus was using “gorilla tactics” was actually that she was using “guerilla tactics.”
Catherine – maybe Justin would indeed have been fired in the U.K. after his unpleasant, sexist comments about Anna Kournikova. However, British journalists had no problem with hailing Stan Wawrinka as a champion of “morality.” Not everyone would overlook Stan’s dalliance (when he was already in his 30s) with an underage female player. He had best hope that Donna Vekic doesn’t read too much about the “MeToo” movement. Stan is a “bad messenger” when it comes to morality (even if he may be correct vis a vis Gimelstob).
Justin Gimelstob is undoubtedly a very bad messenger. But his viewpoint that tennis players, especially those at lower levels, deserve a fairer share of tournament profits strikes me as valid. Perhaps, Brad Gilbert, Tim Mayotte, or one of the other candidates to replace Gimelstob will be able to carry on the good part of his mission, arguing on behalf of the players.
Scoop Malinowski · May 3, 2019 at 7:19 pm
Hi Sherry, Espn has to “exonerate” Doug Adler back into a job to fully truly exonerate him. I disagree with your mis-portrayal of Stan and Vekic, they are happy together, age is just a number. They have been happily together for years. Not fair to try to label or assume anything about their relationship, it takes two to tango. Agree the lower ranked players deserve more money but out of whose pocket and at whose expense is the big question. Welcome to the site Sherry and thanks for your comments. BTW Marcelo Rios and Ivan Lendl also married women who they first courted when they were teenagers, Rios future wife was 14 or 15, Lend’s future wife Sam Frankel was also 15 I believe.
Anonymous · May 3, 2019 at 7:21 pm
Weller Evans…
https://twitter.com/BenRothenberg/status/1123924348975353856
Hartt · May 3, 2019 at 7:22 pm
I think those of us who are interested in the lower levels of tennis, such as the Challengers, and who are aware of how tough things are for those players, or even for players who aren’t in the top 100 or so, would agree that there needs to be a better distribution of the prize money. But hopefully the player reps who try to accomplish that won’t be a polarizing figure like Gimelstob.
Even Jon Wertheim, who has been open about the conflict he has as a (now former) colleague of Gimelstob’s, said this to Gimelstob in a SI “Mailbag.”
“But, to borrow from Animal House, “polarizing” is no way to go through life. Not every interaction needs to yield a win or a loss, a fan or a detractor. Not every relationship reduces to “for me” or “against me.”
Scoop Malinowski · May 3, 2019 at 8:24 pm
Anonymous, Yes I know Weller Evans, good man, and a staunch loyalist to Gimelstob just like so many other prominent figures in tennis are. I think Weller would have a different comment now on Justin in light of all the dirty laundry that’s come out. Respect to Ben Rothenberg for also having the guts to challenge Gim.
Scoop Malinowski · May 3, 2019 at 8:26 pm
Hartt, the word from a tennis media colleague is that the Tennis Channel has to this point still refused to discuss the Gimelstob situation. That is abominable censor and sweeping a horror story under a carpet. Very bad look by the Tennis Channel to ignore this story and protect Gimelstob.
Dan Markowitz · May 3, 2019 at 8:40 pm
Sherry,
Thanks for your insightful and reasoned post. I too shake my head a bit when I hear Stan make comments about anyone else’s morality. Not only did he get involved with a minor–which is also a crime I might add if you’re an adult–he left his wife and young daughter to do so. Stan seems like a real good guy and doing what he did pales with what Gimel did, but even so, Stan might leave the morality plays to other tennis figures.
Scoop Malinowski · May 3, 2019 at 9:13 pm
Oh stop it. European law is different. 18 is a legal adult just about everywhere. Why no badgering of Wawrinka ex wife who was considerably older than him. Does she get a free pass?
Anonymous · May 4, 2019 at 1:36 am
I shared the Weller Evans link so you all can understand how important Gimelstob is in the tennis hierarchy. He called him “the conscience of tennis.”
I would suggest that we should all be careful about being critical of Gimelstob because it could have repercussions for our lives given how powerful he is.
I believe I have some idea who this mysterious “Franklin” is and I suggest that we not antagonize him given the ramifications and magnitude of the situation.
catherine · May 4, 2019 at 1:48 am
Scoop = thanks for being sensible. The legal age of consent in the UK is 16 and in other European countries it is the same, if not lower. Stan did not leave his wife for Donna Vekic – his marriage was pretty much over and he certainly committed no crime in starting a relationship with her. And in any case his personal situation has nothing to do with his opinion of Gimelstob, a pretty unpleasant man. Let’s hope G takes a long leave of absence and we can move on to other things.
Scoop Malinowski · May 4, 2019 at 7:23 am
That is a very interesting post Anonymous.
catherine · May 4, 2019 at 8:06 am
For heaven’s sake – this is getting a bit ridiculous. I know I’m in Britain and out of harm’s way but who is Justin Gimelstob that it’s dangerous to criticize him ? How is he ‘powerful’ ? What’s going to happen if we antagonize him ? Booby traps ? Cyanide in our coffee ?
‘Anonymous’ should reveal himself. Is his post a joke ? Sounds like one.
I can assure you that outside the narrow world of pro tennis few people know or care who Gimelstob is and his ability to harm anyone now is nil.
BTW – I’d ignore anonymous posts. Not a good look for T-P to showcase ‘Anonymous’ and his/her strange ideas.
catherine · May 4, 2019 at 10:57 am
Hartt – people are talking about Gimilstob as though he were a Mafia boss. Believe me, whatever power he has is illusory and will quickly fade away. He’s on probation – if he puts a foot out of line he’ll be in the slammer. Outside tennis, a pretty small world, he’s a nothing. And in that world he’s not bigger than the national associations, or the ITF, or the major sponsors.
Let’s forget about him and remember the really important people in tennis – the players.
catherine · May 4, 2019 at 11:00 am
Harrt – your comments gone. I’ll refresh.
Scoop Malinowski · May 4, 2019 at 3:55 pm
Catherine, sometimes Anons know a heckuva lot of inside information. I respect anons and our friend Anonymous seems legit. Franklin seems like either a Gimel shill or even Gimel himself. I know some big people in tennis read this site. I also think it would be a grave error on Gimel’s part if he were to exact a vendetta on people who criticize him or his political enemies. I also wonder if he has that kind of power, because if he did, wouldn’t he have used it on Kaplan instead of doing the dirty work himself? Have heard rumors that the Gimelstob family is mafia connected but who knows. He majorly screwed up on Halloween night last year and he has to pay a very stiff price for it. He also majorly screwed up how he handled it by showing no remorse and trying to weasel his way out of the mess. This arrogance caused a public uproar and social media revolt which brought him down and out of power. The Lord works in mysterious ways.
Sherry · May 4, 2019 at 4:19 pm
Scoop – I don’t know much about Doug Adler. But just from the perspective of “logic,” it makes no sense to refer to “gorilla tactics.” Venus stood at the baseline and emitted a “primal scream”? Doesn’t sound much like the retiring, dignified Venus. On the other hand, “guerilla tactics” would make a lot more sense, as Venus is an excellent volleyer who has been known to sneak into the net (and many people wish she would do this more often). I would assume that audio analysis supported Adler’s version of the story. I don’t know that ESPN acted well in this case, so their decision to re-hire/or not to re-hire Adler wouldn’t be persuasive to me (corporate entities don’t like to lose lawsuits). On the other hand, maybe you know Adler and know that he is a racist?
I don’t think Stan and Donna are still together (though Twitter reports of the bitterness involved may not be reliable). Whether the U.S. or Europe is correct on what is an appropriate “age of consent” is a matter of opinion.
You say, “Agree the lower ranked players deserve more money but out of whose pocket and at whose expense is the big question.” I think one of the players’ complaints is that there is little transparency about how much money tournaments earn. Leaving aside the smaller tournaments, which probably are indeed struggling, the GS tournaments and many of the Masters 1000s seem to be very financially healthy. Years ago, the NY Times ran an article about “self-dealing” and conflicts of interest among members of the USTA in distributing the huge profits from the US Open. Although I certainly hope funds are available to develop U.S. players and to improve facilities at the Open, I wouldn’t be too supportive of excessive enrichment of administrators. Better more money should go to the players. An article in the Independent in 2017 said players receive 15-28% of ATP revenues but may receive as little as 7-8% of G.S. revenue. The article indicated that Wimbledon “declined to reveal exact percentage” but said it was “significantly more” than 7%. Say, “significantly more” means 15% – would that be enough?
Scoop Malinowski · May 4, 2019 at 4:53 pm
Sherry, I don’t know Doug Adler outside a couple of brief encounters at Citi Open. He’s not a racist. The term “guerilla tennis” was actually the name of a big Nike ad campaign many years back so it’s a part of the tennis lexicon though rarely used for understandable reasons. I don’t know if Adler ever used the term other than the one single time of the Venus match. If that Venus match was the only time he used it, you have to wonder. You have to wonder if he did that intentionally to spark up some controversy with his name involved, and then it exploded into a much bigger mess than was intended? I don’t recall Nike being accused of racist allegations when it created their “Guerilla tennis” campaign. https://sneakerhistory.com/2015/01/10/nike-guerilla-tennis-featuring-andre-agassi-pete-sampras/
Scoop Malinowski · May 4, 2019 at 4:56 pm
Sherry, if those profit percentage numbers you presented are accurate than the players are really getting short ended. I believe I read somewhere the NBA or NFL gives the players 50% of the profits. If this wide disparity exists in tennis, it should be addressed publicly. The player’s union side needs to publicize this disparity and fight for more equality. If these percentages you shared are factual. They may not be.
catherine · May 5, 2019 at 1:38 am
Trivial but – Donna Vekic and Stan are still together, as of a month or so ago. Not that it’s any of our business.
Hartt · May 5, 2019 at 9:40 am
I’d like to see a breakdown of where the money from Slams and Masters tourneys goes. Not just the amount to the players, but what are the costs for running the tourney, what goes to facility upgrades, what goes to the federations?
Tennis Canada, which owns the Rogers Cup, relies on the profits from that tourney to fund its various activities, including supporting young players. How much $ from Wimbledon goes to the LTA, and how do they use those funds? The same questions for the other big tourneys.
catherine · May 5, 2019 at 10:49 am
Hartt – the amount of money which goes from the AEC to the LTA has changed over the years but the figures are available, although I don’t have them. How the LTA uses the funds is up to the LTA I imagine – again, it would be possible to find out – most would go to promoting the game in Britain, which the LTA is supposedly for.
Wimbledon makes a lot of money but it’s a very expensive tournament to run and I believe the cost of the roof on No 1 court meant the LTA’s portion of the largesse was reduced over the past couple of years. The AEC also recently bought a nearby golf course for future development which also depleted the piggy bank.
Wimbledon’s situation is unusual in that the AEC is still a private club and the LTA has no official connection with it, although benefitting financially. It’s the only GS which doesn’t have the country’s name in its title.
(I could find out more but my usual authority on these matters is away at the moment)
Scoop Malinowski · May 5, 2019 at 2:33 pm
These are all valid questions and transparency of the details should be the obligation of the establishments to share.
catherine · May 5, 2019 at 3:03 pm
The LTA and Wimbledon’s accounts and financial allocations etc are all available for scrutiny. I assume it’s the same with other major tournaments.
Hartt · May 5, 2019 at 3:16 pm
Then I guess I would like a tennis reporter to write an article on the allocation of funds by the big tourneys. I am not up to doing that research – it would cut into my tennis viewing time. 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · May 5, 2019 at 3:25 pm
Felix beats Shap, as expected in Madrid 62 76. Felix has taken off this year and has clearly passed Shap. Kyrgios lost to Struff, another player who has ascended in the last six months.
Scoop Malinowski · May 5, 2019 at 3:43 pm
Hartt, I agree, to dig into the numbers is the player’s union job. I don’t think the public really cares about the percentages, they just want to see great tennis. There is a ton of money in pro tennis. Massive amounts. It’s up to the powers that be to be fair to each other. And if not, then let their be a revolt and let the chips fall where they may.
Hartt · May 5, 2019 at 4:11 pm
Catherine and I commented about the Shapo vs FAA match on another thread. Obviously I am a huge FAA fan. All those articles I wrote about him last year should be a clue.
I think in the long run that Félix will have a more successful career than Denis. (Shapo himself has basically said that.) But I am not sure he has surpassed him yet. Although he now is ahead in the live ATP “Race” with 921 points to 695. In fact, Félix is at No. 13 in the live Race, quite an accomplishment for the youngster.
However, before saying he has definitely surpassed Shapo, I would like to see how the grass and hard court seasons pan out. At the moment, FAA’s proficiency on clay has helped him in the rankings.