Relaxing rules blueprint for China

Source: Agencies | March 19, 2009, Thursday |

Print Edition

CHINA'S decision to free its top tennis players from the state system could provide a blueprint for other sports, according to a senior tennis official.

The Chinese system enjoyed its greatest triumph when China topped the medals table at last year's Olympics.

The decision to allow Zheng Jie, Li Na, Yan Zi and Peng Shuai to keep 92 percent of their earnings and choose their own coaches was merely a reflection of the new realities, according to the deputy director of the Chinese Tennis Association.

"So far we are the first to attempt such a change among all the Olympic sports within the General Administration of Sport," Gao Shenyang said.

"But I believe with the society and competitive sports developing into a certain stage, similar changes could happen elsewhere."

Before the change, the four women kept only 35 percent of their winnings. In return, the CTA covered all their travel, coaching and equipment expenses.

Zheng, the first Chinese to reach the last four of a grand slam at Wimbledon last year, has won US$2,432,018 in her five-year career. Li Na has accumulated US$1.5 million in 10 years.

Both are now coached by their husbands.

"Our traditional system could not meet 100 percent of the individual needs of the players," he said. "We needed to work out a solution together."

The CTA support team that used to be considered an advantage of the national system was simply unable to keep up with the progress of top players with differing schedules, Gao said.

"No matter how hard they worked, they were unable to satisfy everyone," he said.

Other players who wanted to go it alone would be able to choose to do so, Gao said, and any of the four could return to the state system at any time if they suffered difficulties like serious injury.

"The door is always open," he added.

Tennis

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Relaxing rules blueprint for China

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