Virus-caused unemployment in tennis could lead some to quit

Like plenty of people from all walks of life, 26-year-old Mitchell Krueger wants to sign up for unemployment benefits to make up for income lost because of coronavirus pandemic.

luck, so far: Over past two weeks, Dallas resident has spent hours hitting refresh on his iP while reaching “P unavailable” de ends or hearing busy signals when calling Texas Workforce Commission.

Unlike most folks hoping for an assist, Krueger is a professional athlete, a tennis player good eugh to be ranked 195th in world. And unlike pros in NBA or NHL, two leagues interrupted by

Inste, he and hundreds of men and women like him — and ir coaches — need tournaments to happen so y can earn money, but

“You’re going to have a lot of players who feel y can’t survive, t making any money. After a while, y might get into something else, for what y think will be meantime. n maybe y realize, ‘Hey, this is actually better.’ If this goes on for next nine months, who’s to say that y’re even going to bor trying to come back and play again?” said Krueger, who earned $39,264 in prize money in 2020 before expenses were subtracted — and before competition came to a halt. “I would be lying if I said this whole situation hasn’t me me give a little bit of consideration to what I would do.”

Tennis is as much of a worldwide enterprise, and as fractured, a sport as any, controlled by a mix of International Tennis Federation, ATP and WTA tours and four Grand Slam tournaments. David Haggerty, ITF president, told Associated Press in an email Tuesday that those seven groups are “collaborating on a tennis solidarity fund that will assist some lower-ranked players. Details are being worked out, to be anunced later this week.”

men’s and women’s tours also declined to offer specifics, or than to say y would minister fund, which is expected to top $6 million. Separately, WTA CEO Steve Simon said his tour “delivered over $3 million in benefits since suspension of play began," without saying exactly where that money came from or where it went.

vak Djokovic, 17-time major champion from Serbia who les ATP player council, has talked about using donations from or players to help those ranked outside top 200 or 250.

That might t go far eugh.

125th-ranked woman, Katarzyna Kawa of Poland, has earned $22,944 in prize money in 2020; 175th-ranked man, Carlos Taberner of Spain, $34,114.

When ATP Tour’s Twitter account

Her prize money for year is $42,210, and one kws when that’ll change.

“We are such a global sport, with people traveling all over from everywhere and to everywhere, so I don’t see how it’s going to be easy for us to resume,” said 111th-ranked Denis Kudla, a 27-year-old based in Arlington, Virginia, with about $45,000 in 2020 earnings. “I could be wrong. I hope I’m wrong.”

Coaches often are paid per week when traveling on tour, getting bonuses based on players' success.

“re’s a trickle-down effect, right? So nts are feeling it. Coaches are feeling it,” said Sam Duvall, whose Toptch Manment represents Kudla and more than a dozen or tennis pros, including 2018 Wimbledon semifinalist John Isner and former top-10 player Caroline Garcia.

“ biggest challenge is just t kwing what’s on horizon,” Duvall said. “If we knew that, ‘Hey, Sept. 1, we’re going to be good’ ... n I think people could plan, make sacrifices that are needed and get help that is needed."

Kudla’s conversations with or pros are sobering.

“Guys are panicking,” Kudla said. “y’re alrey worrying about how to pay rent next month."

One silver lining: Players aren’t accumulating ir usual credit card charges.

“You can run through $10,000 or $20,000 very quickly with full staff you need. ... You're paying for yourself, significant ors, a coach, a physio. Separate hotel rooms. Airfare,” Kudla said. “ bill runs pretty high.”

Kudla’s coach, Carlos Benatzky, who also works with . 183 Thai Kwiatkowski, said he’d love to replace lost ws by giving private lessons.

But that’s t an option, with courts shuttered during lockdown.

“ vast majority of (coaches) are experiencing struggles, like or people in or professions who are t able to go to work and might have ir pay cut — or are t getting paid at all," Benatzky said. "We’re all facing quite a significant amount of uncertainty.”