Michael Stich, the former world number two tennis player, has spoken out against the Professional Tennis Players Association’s (PTPA) recent lawsuit against the ATP, WTA, International Tennis Federation (ITF), and International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).
Stich, who won Wimbledon in 1991, expressed his concerns that the lawsuit will harm the sport. He emphasized that the current generation of tennis players is earning more than ever before, and that the prize money for top players has increased significantly
In an interview shared by *Tennis Up To Date*, former Wimbledon champion (1991) Michael Stich stated that the PTPA, created by Djokovic, “is harming the sport with its lawsuit.”
The German also responded to Patrick Mouratoglou on the issue of player salaries. Osaka’s coach had called for better revenue distribution:
*”Dear Patrick, as a former player, I agree with some of the things you wrote. I was part of the players’ council in the 90s, and we tried to secure a larger share of the revenue. *
*This has been an ongoing process for 50 years. Nevertheless, no generation has earned as much money as the current one. Look at the prize money for top singles and doubles players. *
*So, these players should support the others, as you wrote. They must give back. It’s not the system’s responsibility. As the promoter of the Hamburg tournament, I can tell you it’s difficult to generate profits from such an event. *
*And I believe many tournaments aren’t getting rich from this. They do it for the love of the sport and the environment. However, top players are demanding unreasonable guarantees, which creates major problems for tournaments. *
*The first step should be setting a limit on guarantees. Then, promoters could even increase prize money. But players want everything—more money, fewer playing obligations, no commitments to tournaments. *
*They need to understand that promoters provide them with work and are valuable partners on the tour. In my ten years on the circuit, there was no real dialogue between players and tournaments. *
*CJ GLOBAL Key Points of Stich’s Statement: *
– _Financial Growth_:
Stich noted that the current generation of tennis players is earning more than ever before, with top players receiving enormous prize money.
-Tournament Organizers’ Struggle:
He highlighted the financial struggles of tournament organizers, who are not motivated by profit but by their love for the sport.
– _Players’ Demands_:
Stich criticized the players’ demands for higher appearance fees, which he believes put a significant burden on tournament organizers.
*Stich’s Current Activities: *
– _Tennis Commentary_: Stich works as a tennis commentator for the BBC and BBC Radio 5 Live.
– _Charity Work_:
He is involved with various charitable organizations, including his own foundation, which supports HIV-infected children.
– _Artistic Pursuits_:
Stich has also pursued his passion for art, studying art history and creating his own abstract works.
