Top 10 tennis players send a second letter to the Grand Slam tournaments, asking for a hike in prize money
A collection of top-10 tennis players sent a second letter to the four Grand Slam tournaments to push for a greater share of revenues — aiming to rise from the current 16 per cent to 22 per cent by 2030 — contributions to pension, health and maternity benefits that would go from zero to $12 million annually by that same year, and greater say via a new player council. This letter, signed by stars such as Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Switek, Coco Gauff, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Jack Drapper, but not, unlike the original letter sent by players including Novak Djokovic to the Slam events in March, dated July 30. The second letter, which was seen this week by AP, set out specific benchmarks for ways in which the sport’s four most prestigious and profitable tournaments could offer more money and influence to the athletes. The players are working with Larry Scott as a consultant; he used to be the chairman and CEO of the WTA women’s tennis tour and, later, ran the Pac-12 conference in American college sports. There have been meetings among Scott, some players and the leaders of the All England Club, which runs Wimbledon; the French Tennis Federation, which runs Roland-Garros; Tennis Australia, which runs the Australian Open; and the U.S. Tennis Association, which runs the U.S. Open. All four were asked to reply to the July 30 letter, and all four did. The USTA’s response, dated August 18 and obtained this week by the AP, was signed by Brian Vahaly, the group’s interim co-CEO, and Stacey Allaster, the USTA’s chief executive of professional tennis, who just completed her last U.S. Open as tournament director.
PCB Chief Creates Big Controversy; Follows Rauf’s mocking, citing a Cristiano Ronaldo Video!
Christiano Ronaldo is seen in a video posted on social media, explaining how his direct free kick dipped and struck the nets. But Asian Cricket Council chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is the ‘Interior Minister’ and chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board, on Wednesday, used Ronaldo’s video and created a big controversy with a provocative gesture against Indian military. Earlier, during the Asia Cup Super 4 game in Dubai last Sunday, Rauf made gestures mocking India’s military action. ACC chairman also fueled the controversy with the post of Ronaldo’s video, trying to mean how Pakistan brought down India’s planes during the post-Pahelgaon-attacks. The controversy has caught the attention of both BCCI and ICC mandarins, and only time will tell if action will be taken against Naqvi as a result. Meanwhile, India has filed an official complaint with the ICC against Pakistan cricketers Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhin for their provocative gestures during the two sides’ Asia Cup Super 4 game in Dubai last Sunday. It is reliably learnt that the BCCI filed the complaint against the duo on Wednesday and ICC is in receipt of the e-mail. An ICC hearing is expected to take place in case Sahibzada and Rauf deny these allegations in writing. They might have to appear before the ICC Elite Panel Referee, Richie Richardson for a hearing. In its retaliation, the Pakistan Cricket Board also seems to have lodged an official complaint with the international parent body against Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav for expressing his solidarity with victims of Pahalgam terror attack and dedicating his team’s victory to the Indian Armed Forces involved in Operation Sindoor. His comments came after the September 14 game.
