Spectator wrote:

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I wouldn't have said that either match-up was a great one.

On the other front, presumably, although you don't have to pay tax in Australia, UK players will still have to pay tax on their earnings in Britain. I would assume that most major tennis nations have mutual tax treaties, which mean that if you are a UK player and pay tax on earnings in - say - France, you then don't get taxed on that income in the UK (below a certain level). So there may not be any particular gain or loss on paying in-country. Though equally there might be - the detail is always key. Have long felt that working out tennis players' tax arrangements must be the stuff of a tax lawyer's dreams ... and everyone else's nightmares.

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 For anyone interested, the UK withholding tax rules for tennis players (and all other 'entertainers') not fiscally resident in the UK can be found at :

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/leaflets/feu50_0300.htm

 

The problem with these rules (very similar in many countries) is that most tennis players have such high expenses (and low income) that they, quite legitimately, don't have any income tax to pay. As such, they can't claim back and offset the tax they've already paid elsewhere against their tax bill in their residence country. It's effectively money that's gone that shouldn't be gone.

 

Indeed. And there were stronger talks of his brothers moving to Britain.


(Phew!)

-- Edited by Salmon on Sunday 20th of October 2013 04:42:01 PM

I'm calling b*llocks on that one.

It was certainly financially feasible for our good friend Gary.

Djokovic was ranked around 250 in late 2004. A1 Pharmaceuticals made £1.1 million pre-tax profit in the year to 30 April 2004, after paying Gary and his Mrs £300,000; and £0.6 million the following year, after paying Gary and his Mrs £500,000.

This of course pales into insignificance when compared to the 2013 profits of £3.2 million, but they're certainly nothing to be sniffed at. And remember that Gary and Mrs Gary own the entire shebang, so talk of complaints from other directors should be taken with a very large pinch of salt.

I'm glad that Novak didn't choose to play for Britain. Would have meant a Marko Djokovic wild card at every major event from 2007 to 2025, and then Djordje Djokovic wild cards from 2011 to 2032.


Thanks for rejecting Nole, A1TA. You saved British tennis.

indiana wrote:

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Actually I vaguely remember some speculation about Novak and GBR n his early days. I can't recall any of the whys and wherefores.

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I remember that, too, Indy.  The story goes back five years - try here.

Courts 7 and 11 are being streamed, which means Brydan's match will be streamed n/b 02.00 BST but Wardy's doubles match (with his R1 singles opponent as his partner) will not - hopefully the fact he's a seed playing an Aussie means his singles match will be though.