Federer slammed for not supporting lower-ranked players amid COVID-19 crisis

Harris was particularly critical of Federer as he claimed that the Swiss superstar doesn’t care if prize money reaches the lower-ranked players despite his public stance which is the opposite. He, however, said that Djokovic had done the most in this rega

Australia tennis player Andrew Harris trained his guns towards big-ticket players for failing to do anything for lower-ranked players, who according to him, have suffered the most during these unprecedented times put forward by coronavirus pandemic.

“The general public don’t have any idea of the discrepancies in prize money and the distribution of wealth right up the top. There’s got to be a structure where there’s more than just 100 guys making a living in a global sport… after that, we’re pretty much losing money,” Harris said on Break Point Podcast as per foxsports.com.au.

“I think we need a system where we can support 300 players where the 300th-best player in the world can earn an income to support themselves.

“It’s definitely skewed to the top but the governing bodies need to do more to help the guys outside the top 100 because there’s still a bloody good level outside the top 100. It’s just about getting the opportunities and taking them to get to the next level.”

Harris was particularly critical of 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer as he claimed that the Swiss superstar doesn’t care if prize money reaches the lower-ranked players despite his public stance which is the opposite. He, however, said that current World No.1 Novak Djokovic had done the most in this regard.

“Roger, Rafa and Novak. They’ve been at the top for so long, they almost forget what it’s like to be in these lower positions. I know Federer is all for the money at the top. He might say in public what people want to hear, that he’s all for money being redistributed to lower-ranked players … but when it comes to voting, his preference is to keep it at the top,” Harris claimed.

“I think Novak out of the top three is pushing the agenda to give money to the lower ranks hardest. (I’m unsure) whether that’s enough, but out of those three, I think he’s doing the most. It doesn’t affect them so they’re not that invested.

“At world no. 1 or 2, you’ve got so much going on. Novak didn’t even join the Zoom call … He’s head of the Player Council and he’s not even on the call, didn’t show his face. There were images of him playing soccer at the same time. That’s pretty ordinary,” he added.

‘BIG 4’ LEGACIES: It’s a complete guessing game, but it’s still fun to discuss: Will the legacies of the four most prominent and successful tennis players of today - and maybe ever - be affected by the coronavirus-interrupted 2020 season?

And how will Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic - known as the Big Three of the men’s game - along with Serena Williams, fare whenever they do return to competition? (Federer is out until 2021 after twice needing arthroscopic knee surgery.)

Call them the Big Four. They rule their sport, on and off the court, and have done so to such an extent that no matter how many wins and losses might come the rest of the way, their places in history are secure. Williams owns 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most in the professional era. Federer has a men’s-record 20, Nadal 19 and Djokovic 17; no other man has more than 14.

They drive interest among tennis fans and non-fans, alike.

Let’s be honest: What happens with them matters more than with other players, particularly when Williams is trying to equal Margaret Court’s all-era mark of 24 majors, and when Nadal and Djokovic are closing in on Federer.

Also intriguing: Their ages. Federer and Williams turn 39 soon; Nadal is 34, Djokovic 33.