Tennis Random, Random (On Court)

[ponchi101]

Excuse me for being frivolous but: what pretty signature from Dayana.
Agree with JazzNu. The system cannot work on assumption of guilt. It is not all the psychological pressure she went through, there is money lost in this case.
Keep it confidential, work with the player, but not announce doping suspensions unless 100% sure.

[JazzNU]

[ti-amie]

This was posted by @jon_wertheim

ATP Player Letter

We, the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), on behalf of the undersigned players of the ATP, are writing to express our concern with the ATP’s proposed 30-year plan (the “Plan”) and to request that any vote on the Plan be delayed until our questions have been answered in detail. The PTPA is committed to building a fair and sustainable competitive environment for players today, and for generations to come.

We believe professional tennis must have a strong, healthy, and competitive ATP that serves all of its stakeholders. However, the Plan is extremely vague about key issues including, but not limited to, a complete understanding for how it will affect revenues, health benefits, prize money, player image rights, and tournament commitments for the next 30 years.

For example, it appears the ATP seeks to profit from the players’ images and to retain “control of data rights” in order to generate revenue from “betting and non-betting markets.” We have serious questions about how the ATP plans to mine player data and who owns the data. The Plan may endanger each player's ability to build their personal brands and freely use their own name, image, and likeness for the next 30 years.

We agree with the ATP that the sport needs to generate revenue commensurate with its fan base and is in full support of a new plan that grows the sport. As the ATP points out in the Plan, “tennis ranks 4th in popularity worldwide, with more than 1 billion fans globally. However, it generates only 1.3% of the total value of global sports media rights.” The sport can do better.

We want to work with the ATP on a fair deal that ensures both players and tournaments can prosper going forward. We are asking for answers and transparency. If a goal of the Plan is a true partnership, answers and real transparency seems like a good place to start.

We are requesting information about specific questions because the answers could be the difference for hundreds of players earning a livelihood or not; therefore, we are demanding answers and an ability to do our diligence on these answers and follow ups, as needed. Rushing a vote on such an important and lasting plan is unnecessary and unfair to the players.

The Plan is scheduled to go into effect in January 2023, so there is no valid reason not to delay the vote until players’ questions are answered in detail. Last year, before the 30-year plan was delayed by COVID-19, ATP had planned to vote on it just seven months in advance, so there is plenty of time for thoughtful consideration.

Here are just some of the dozens of questions we have for the ATP:

- Why is the Plan 30 years?
- How will player data be mined and how will it be used?
- What benefit do the players receive for granting the ATP the right to mine and monetize their data?
- Do players share in the increased value to ATP Media?
- Do players share in the increased value to the tournaments?
- What has been negotiated with private equity firm CVC and how will it affect players?
- What added benefits (health, insurance, pension) will the players receive?
- What happens to the Plan if the ATP cannot aggregate rights with the Grand Slams, WTA & ITF?
- Why is the profit share being done on an aggregate and not individual tournament basis (seems to benefit the tournaments)?
- Why is it a profit share and not a revenue share?
- How is revenue defined in the profit share?
- How are expenses defined in the profit share?
- Why is infrastructure included as an expense?
- What is the projected timeline for when this new prize money formula will be applied to 500s and 250s?
- Why are the ATP events (ATP Cup, Next Gen ATP Finals, Nitto ATP Finals) not included in the proposed profit- sharing model?

30 years is a very long time. The Plan will have a lasting and profound effect on players today and for generations to come. We need transparency and answers to important questions. Until then, the vote must be delayed.

About the Professional Tennis Players Association

###

Created by the players, for the players, the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) is as an integrated association for professional tennis players. Founded by Vasek Pospisil and Novak Djokovic in 2020, the PTPA is a not-for-profit corporation based in Canada that addresses player challenges and influences fair change within the business of professional tennis. www.PTPAPlayers.com

[ponchi101]

Are they even real? Really, I am lost. Is the PTPA even a legit voice for the players?

[ti-amie]

Are they even real? Really, I am lost. Is the PTPA even a legit voice for the players?

[JazzNU]

Kinda saw this coming if you've been paying attention to media coverage in Mallorca. Novak has been out there glad-handing like a politician and it's been real interesting.


I'm already seeing a glaring problem looking at this board they named. Not exactly as pure as they want you to believe.

https://twitter.com/ptpaplayers

[ti-amie]

[ponchi101]

0-15

[JazzNU]

0-15

At least 0-30, but possibly 0-40, don't you think?

50-50 profit sharing is a massive improvement that most were looking for. Love that they threw in "democratically elected by all players."

[ponchi101]

I said 0-15 simply because Wertheim said "ATP returns serve".
I would say 0-1,ATP to serve.
Aaaah, we agree

[Deuce]

Bring back the WCT and Grand Prix circuits!

[Deuce]

That photo was a Sports Illustrated cover.

The man in the suit and tie sitting on the chair by the net post is Fingers Fortescue, the world famous net cord judge. Fingers and his cohorts would sit there with two fingers delicately touching the net tape during matches and call a let whenever the serve would graze the net and land in a service box.

In an average tennis year, 4 net cord judges were killed by errant shots - all of the shots coming from players wielding the new graphite racquets of the day (standards size - 60 - 70 sq. in.). Despite the obvious dangers of the position, Fingers persevered - even after being put into a coma for 9 days after being struck in the left temple by an errant Roscoe Tanner serve.
Returning to his post after a 4 month recovery period, Fingers refused to work any matches featuring a left-handed player for the remainder of his career.

When the electronic devices to call 'net cord' lets began to populate tournaments, Fingers sued every professional tennis association he could find for 'restraint of trade'.

RIP, Bud Collins...
https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/ar ... llins.html

.

[ponchi101]

Also.
That shot was after match-point in the championship match, not during the "You cannot be serious match". McEnroe's strange gait is because he was going to fall on his knees and, he would later say, he thought at that moment "No, that's what HE (Borg) does!" so he stopped his downward movement.
He really did not want to be like Borg, as much as he respected him. But another fun part is that, in all his matches against Borg, he behaved like a Lord. He knew Borg would not be distracted or intimidated by his bullying.

[TAT2.0]

PRESS RELEASE

22 June 2021

Decision in the case of Dayana Yastremska

A decision has been issued by the Independent Tribunal under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (the “Programme”) that Dayana Yastremska has committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.1 of the 2020 Programme, without any fault or negligence on her part. No period of ineligibility was imposed.


Ms. Yastremska, a 20-year-old player from Ukraine, provided an Out-of-Competition urine sample on 24 November 2020. That sample was sent to the World Anti-Doping Agency (“WADA”) accredited laboratory in Montreal, Canada for analysis, and was found to contain a metabolite of mesterolone. Mesterolone, a non-Specified Substance, is prohibited under category S1 of the 2020 WADA Prohibited List (Anabolic Agents), and therefore is also prohibited under the Programme.


Ms. Yastremska was charged with an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.1 of the Programme (presence of a Prohibited Substance in a Player’s Sample) on 22 December 2020 and was provisionally suspended with effect from 7 January 2021. Following a hearing, the Independent Tribunal accepted Ms. Yastremska’s account of how the mesterolone entered her system and determined that she bore No Fault or Negligence for the violation within the meaning of Programme Article 10.5. Where a finding of No Fault or Negligence is made, Programme Article 10.5 provides that any otherwise applicable period of Ineligibility shall be eliminated entirely. Therefore, Ms. Yastremska’s provisional suspension is lifted with immediate effect, and she will not serve any period of Ineligibility for her violation. For the avoidance of doubt, Ms. Yastremska is eligible to resume competition immediately.


This is Ms. Yastremska’s first Anti-Doping Rule Violation. The Independent Tribunal’s decision determines that Ms. Yastremska: (1) has committed a violation of Article 2.1 of the Programme; (2) has committed that violation with No Fault or Negligence and therefore no period of ineligibility is imposed; and (3) is eligible to compete with immediate effect. This decision is subject to appeal by WADA and NADO Ukraine to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.


Note to Editors:

The Tennis Anti-Doping Programme applies to all players competing at Grand Slam tournaments and events sanctioned by the ITF, ATP and WTA. Players are tested for substances prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency and, upon finding that an Anti-Doping Rule Violation has been committed, sanctions are imposed under the Programme in compliance with the requirements of the World Anti-Doping Code. More information on the Programme, sanctions, statistics, and related matters can be found at itftennis.com/antidoping

[JazzNU]

Jon Wertheim is on Tennis Channel saying the PTPA includes women. Despite nothing in their statements saying this or their questions all being directed at ATP. What am I missing here?