Breaking the Bank (Nicola Slater)

Grachka · County player

Breaking the Bank (Nicola Slater)

Peter too · Tennis legend

The crazy thing is that if the only people who played on the circuit were the ones that made a living there wouldn't be enough players to run a viable circuit. The top players really only exist because of the generosity of the lower players and their families. The WTA and ITF really should increase the payout for lower tournaments.

wimdledont · Challenger level

The LTA's new "tough, love" policy, and their tournament schedule, which was calamitously badly planned in 2015, and worse this year, can probably claim some credit for forcing Nik to retire.

This all goes back to June 2015, and I've forgotten some of the sequence, but...

Nik's last match was in the qualifying doubles draw for Wimbledon, partnering Tara Moore. Unlike in 2013, when Lisa + Nik got a MD WC, with a CR of 650+, and Nik made about 1/6 of her career earnings in one match. In 2015, Tara+Nik had a CR of about 450, which was within the LTA's criteria for a MD wildcard. Then the LTA announced that having a clear benchmark wasn't right, moved the goalposts, gave the decision to some committee, who told them "tough, loves". So, out of step with every other Slam, Wimbledon awarded only 3 MD wildcards.

The LTA schedule comes into it because of her partner's situation. Tara did not get a single WTA wildcard in 2015, into either MD or qualifiers, because while the UK WTA events were underway, she played a score of tennis matches in as many days. She played Eastbourne, Ilkley and Surbiton 50ks, singles and doubles, a further 3 singles matches at the Wimbledon qWC play-offs, Wimbledon singles qualifiers and, finally, Wimbledon qualifying doubles; by which time a significant part of her shoulder seems to have dropped off; an injury which is apparently still affecting her.

All in all, a triumphant success for the LTA's Downey-era strategy to concentrate all resources on a handful of infant prodigies and previous junior Grand Slam champions; and to do as much as possible to disadvantage the middle-ranking players he inherited who were struggling to make a living, grinding out occasional wins amongst some frequent disappointments on the ITF circuit, such as Moore, Konta, Slater, and Broady.

A year ago, we had 3 ranked doubles specialists; Smith, Rae and Slater. If Joss's injury turns out to be serious, then we could be down to one. And, in doubles, one is none. For those LTA bods whose primary responsibility seems to be to field a Fed Cup team once a year, this should be a source of great concern.

Anyway, I'm sorry to hear of Nik's retirement, and wish her all the best. If she'd be interested in a job that pays more in annual salary than she earned in career prize money, there seem to be about half-a-dozen roles within the LTA, sitting on committees to decide WC allocations, and doing backroom strategy, etc, for the Fed Cup team, all of which come with "an attractive benefits package" apparently...

jobs.lta.org.uk/templates/LTA/benefits.asp

Spectator · All-time great

Excellent article, and well commented by Ms Slater.

One slight mystification. Clicking on the link which you provided, wimbledont, it would appear that one of the benefits is use of the NTC gym. Does anyone understand what legal complications there may be that prevent them allowing outsiders to use the gym, while enabling staff members (who may not be athletes) to do so? This is a genuine question; there must be some legal/insurance issue. But it would be fascinating to know what it is.

PS: Speaking of legal issues, is the reproduction of the article one?

-- Edited by Spectator on Wednesday 10th of February 2016 09:06:11 AM

steven · Tennis legend

Spectator wrote:

PS: Speaking of legal issues, is the reproduction of the article one?

I'll give the first poster a chance to sort this out themselves before doing anything, but as a general rule, I would post a link to the article and only quote a few specific lines I wanted to comment on, which I believe counts as fair usage.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Spectator wrote:
Excellent article, and well commented by Ms Slater.

One slight mystification. Clicking on the link which you provided, wimbledont, it would appear that one of the benefits is use of the NTC gym. Does anyone understand what legal complications there may be that prevent them allowing outsiders to use the gym, while enabling staff members (who may not be athletes) to do so? This is a genuine question; there must be some legal/insurance issue. But it would be fascinating to know what it is.
PS: Speaking of legal issues, is the reproduction of the article one?

-- Edited by Spectator on Wednesday 10th of February 2016 09:06:11 AM

As they would be over the age of 16, as long as they have been properly instructed on the use of all equipment by qualified instructors employed by the centre, it would be unlikely that staff using the gym unsupervised in their own time would incur any insurance premium penalty. It's really the age factor. The potential for misuse and subsequent injury to children makes the clause regarding supervision and instruction by a centre's own staff fairly standard.

Re the article, I think it's already been published in full on the Tennis Smart website, although maybe that's an irrelevance regarding copyright....

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Yes, that doesn't affect copyright - one wrong doesn't sanction a further wrong (this is a theoretical point i.e. not related to the copyright of the article in question).

PS I find the concept of Copyleft a fascinating one and do hope it takes off and becomes more widely accepted.

Re the gym, as Indy says, it would hardly break the bank to employ a gym supervisor for 10-16 hours to cover the weekend of national championships, if that was really what was required. Not to mention that many players were over 16 so, as said, they do not fall into the under 16 category you're talking about.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Its not so much the supervision, although that must happen for 16&U, it's the necessity for users to be instructed on the equipment by a centre's own staff. By the time each person wanting to use the gym during the championships has had an 'induction session' on the equipment it's probably quite time-consuming and a pain in the butt for staff and users, and not overly practical. Obviously I'm not party to the NTC's precise insurance arrangements but I imagine their gym cover is pretty standard. Every health club or gym you go to signs you off after an induction session before you're let loose in the gym on your own - insurance cover being the reason.

But yes, frustrating for the young players who are trying to adopt a professional approach. Have been there with youngsters myself and seen kids doing their warm-up routines out on the patio or stretching down afterwards on the indoor balcony.....

indiana · Tennis legend

Too much maybe looking for why not not rather than how.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Not defending them!!!! Just suggesting the most likely rationale behind their thinking.......

Spectator · All-time great

Thanks, Optimist. That actually does make things more comprehensible.

indiana · Tennis legend

Oh no, sorry The O, I wasn't getting at you, that was very much directed at the LTA, I suspect there is much truth in what you say and you are the messenger. But how much the LTA really look to how, I have my doubts.

Houston, we have a problem - darn, that's that then !

The world's best players may be worth millions, but for most, life on tour is a very different story