Dustin Brown has responded to Dominic Thiem’s comments about not donating money to lower-ranked tennis stars
Dominic Thiem’s recent suggestion of not donating money to lower-ranked players hasn’t gone down too well with Dustin Brown.
Thiem recently rejected the idea of the top tennis stars contributing to help out the lower-ranked competitors who are struggling financially amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
“No tennis player is fighting to survive, even those who are much lower-ranked. None of them are going to starve. I don’t really see why I should give such players money,” he added.
“I would rather give money to people or organisations that really need it,” Thiem had said (h/t New York Post).
Dustin Brown, though, doesn’t agree with the views of the World No.3 and has condemned the Austrian’s comments.
The 35-year-old has revealed how difficult it was for him to get by financially early in his career, stating that he was even stringing rackets for other players to survive.
The German then went on to add that if circumstances like today’s had happened back then, his career would have been over.
“Startin In 2004 I Lived In A Camper, Surviving From Week To Week With The Money I Made… Losing First Round In A 10k Was 117,50$ – Tax… Because Of This I Was Also Stringing Rackets For Other Players For 5€ A Pop… If This Would Happend Then, It Would Have Cost Me My Career!!”
Given the prevailing conditions across the globe, World No.1 Novak Djokovic has also urged players to contribute to a fund set up by tennis’ governing bodies to help players affected by the shutdown, which will last at least until mid-July.
Stefanos Tsitsipas also started an auction to help those stars ranked below 100 in the world. The site helps to sell tennis memorabilia to help those who are struggling financially.
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