COVID-19: Players below 250 rankings now depend on their families – Prajnesh Gunneswaran

As the COVID-19 lockdown has significantly affected the sports calendar, many tennis players have been spending their life savings while others depending on the families during this challenging period.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) had already projected a million cases of the dreaded virus in a matter of days having crossed over 930000 with 50000 deaths also projected as well after over 30000 people lost their lives to the virus.

Although top players are coping with the situation of things due to their high revenue and endorsement, it has been a torrid time for players on the lower pecking order.

Speaking to Reuters on the situation, India’s tennis player, Prajnesh Gunneswaran is hoping that the situation will not run up to six months with players dipping into their savings or depend on their families to get going during the shutdown.

Although, Gunneswaran who is presently ranked 132 on the ATP singles ranking still feel that some tennis players’ condition were even better than many others professionals who had been laid off due to the economic impact of COVID-19.

Those who have been laid-off from their jobs have nothing else to do as they can’t even apply for another job at the moment with lockdowns in countries affected.

While noting that tennis players are better than them, the Indian said this now depends on when the players would return to court and earn a living for their passion as players ranking below 250 players are struggling to keep up.

It could be recalled that top players like Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic have donated to coronavirus relief efforts in their respective countries.

They have also been posting videos of their activities in isolation.

But the players on the lower side of the ranking don’t have such luxuries, and they are counting their losses from the shutdown. Some have even expressed the fear that they won’t be able to feed if the situation lasts much longer.

Georgian tennis player Sofia Shapatava, who is ranked 375th in the women’s singles player ranking, has been seeking assistance for players in the lowest order from the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

ATP and WTA had suspended their tournament till early June.

Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed