“The Grand Slams are not untouchable” – Wawrinka

22-year tennis pro Stan Wawrinka, known as “The Stanimal” affectionately, has achieved great success and secured his place as a formidable rival to the “Big Three.” Having won three major titles in a three-year span, he is poised to be inducted into the Hall of Fame when his career concludes. Despite his impressive achievements, Wawrinka still has much to say and prove before he leaves the sport behind.

In an exclusive interview with L’équipe this week, Wawrinka expressed his frustrations and honest views about the current state of tennis governance. He believes that the major tournaments, particularly the Grand Slams, do not allocate enough money to the players in comparison to the revenues they generate, asserting that they have too much power due to their high income.

Wawrinka disputes the argument that players are receiving more money, contending that the percentage paid to them has hardly increased despite the significant rise in revenues. Furthermore, he slammed the lack of player consultation in important decisions and called for greater player involvement in the decision-making process rather than the need for a players’ union.

The Swiss player expressed his discontent with the lack of progress from Novak Djokovic’s PTPA and highlighted the absence of player consultation in significant decisions. He criticized the decision-making process surrounding the extension of the Australian Open and the neglect of player concerns. Reflecting on these issues, Wawrinka stressed the need for more player involvement in discussions and the reasons for certain decisions.

Highlighting the challenges with the current governance structure of tennis, Wawrinka emphasized the lack of anticipation and a unified approach to addressing players’ issues. He conveyed frustration with the reactive nature of decisions and stressed the need for better player representation in tennis governance.

In a sport marked by multiple governing bodies, different interests, and the lack of a unified approach, Wawrinka urges for more player involvement in the decision-making process, calling for a collaborative and inclusive approach toward addressing the sport’s challenges.

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Jessica Roberts

Jessica Roberts serves up the latest in the world of tennis. With a love for the racket sport, she reports on tennis matches, player rankings, and Grand Slam events, ensuring readers stay informed about the tennis world.