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Stich slams talk of players' strike
Source: Agencies |
September 22, 2011, Thursday
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FORMER Wimbledon champion Michael Stich has said players threatening to strike over crowded schedule should stop living in a dream world.
World No. 4 Andy Murray claimed that leading players were "not afraid" to consider strike action.
However, Stich believes they have little to complain about. "I don't think it's a big issue," the German, who won Wimbledon in 1991, said.
"I think the players forget that all the tournaments out there provide them with jobs. They are not playing more than 10 or 15 years ago.
"It's just like they are running after exhibitions, they are trying to make more money and don't even fulfil their commitments to the smaller tournaments some times.
"They have a shorter season than we used to have. I played singles and doubles and you look at guys like Stefan Edberg they played singles and doubles at grand slams and they never complained, they loved it, it was their job.
"Murray doesn't even play four rounds of Davis Cup throughout the year. It's not down to the tournaments and the ATP, it's down to the players themselves.
"Perhaps they need to look out for their bodies and pick their tournaments better?
"They seem to want to play less but have more prize money and have more influence on the schedule. It's not a dream world out there it's a job and if you take that on you have to deal with the situations you find."
Stich, who also won the Wimbledon and Olympic doubles titles, said crowded tournament schedule allowed lower-ranked players to earn a living. "They should never forget that it's a partnership," added Stich. "If they go on strike they should think what about if the tournaments went on strike because then they wouldn't have a job, no income and no career.
"They should get into discussions that are reasonable, which is happening, but to go on strike is not a good solution."
World No. 4 Andy Murray claimed that leading players were "not afraid" to consider strike action.
However, Stich believes they have little to complain about. "I don't think it's a big issue," the German, who won Wimbledon in 1991, said.
"I think the players forget that all the tournaments out there provide them with jobs. They are not playing more than 10 or 15 years ago.
"It's just like they are running after exhibitions, they are trying to make more money and don't even fulfil their commitments to the smaller tournaments some times.
"They have a shorter season than we used to have. I played singles and doubles and you look at guys like Stefan Edberg they played singles and doubles at grand slams and they never complained, they loved it, it was their job.
"Murray doesn't even play four rounds of Davis Cup throughout the year. It's not down to the tournaments and the ATP, it's down to the players themselves.
"Perhaps they need to look out for their bodies and pick their tournaments better?
"They seem to want to play less but have more prize money and have more influence on the schedule. It's not a dream world out there it's a job and if you take that on you have to deal with the situations you find."
Stich, who also won the Wimbledon and Olympic doubles titles, said crowded tournament schedule allowed lower-ranked players to earn a living. "They should never forget that it's a partnership," added Stich. "If they go on strike they should think what about if the tournaments went on strike because then they wouldn't have a job, no income and no career.
"They should get into discussions that are reasonable, which is happening, but to go on strike is not a good solution."
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