Tennis governing bodies expect to announce as soon as they open a $6 million fund this week to mitigate the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic on about 800 singles and doubles players.
According to an email received by The Associated Press on Monday, the professional tours of WTA and ATP, the organisations overseeing the four Grand Slam tournaments and the International Tennis Federation are scheduled to set eligibility requirements that will make players' rankings and past prize money earnings a consideration.
If $6 million were evenly distributed to 800 players, each would get $7,500.
The seven entities involved in the initiative are contributing to what the email refers to as the “Player Relief Programme,” and the money will be divided equally among men and women. The hope is additional funding will come via other sources, including donations from higher-earning players and auctions.
The email also suggests that the WTA and ATP will oversee the financial aid distribution, something stated when some form of tennis fund was in the works last month when news was.
Tennis has been on hold since March as with most sports around the world because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
More than 30 tournaments have been delayed or cancelled — for example, Wimbledon has been scrapped for the first time in 75 years — and there are no official events on the schedule until early mid-July.
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