“I Didn’t Like That Dominic Thiem’s Statement” – Denis Istomin

ATP Players Council came up with a scheme to help the lowered-ranked player amid the coronavirus pandemic. The top-100 players could voluntarily donate to the Players Relief Fund. The ATP Player Council led by Novak Djokovic raised $6 million along with their collaboration with tennis bodies. However there were some players against donations, and some players did not like the three-time Major finalist Dominic Thiem‘s opposition towards the scheme. 

The Austrian stated about he does not support certain players on the tour. And it better to donate money to the health care associations rather than to the tennis fund. Recently the Russian tennis player Denis Istomin shared Thiem could have discussed the matter with ATP. He dis not like publicizing the matter. 

“I cannot say I fully agree or disagree with that statement. Both viewpoints make sense. The only thing I didn’t like much was that Dominic’s statement was public – he should have discussed the matter with the ATP or with the players beforehand,” Istomin told UBI Tennis.

He later praised the initiative executed by World Number one Novak Djokovic and his ATP team. The amount will be of great help to the players who are struggling to make ends meet.

“I think it is a great idea because this is a very difficult time for all tennis players, especially those with low ranking who do not have a chance to play the Slams and the ATP tournaments – certainly, many of them are considering giving up professional tennis. I hope that the money pledged through the Fund will help motivate them to keep playing,” the man who defeated Novak Djokovic at Australian Open 2017 Istomin added.

Dominic Thiem’s consolidation

Thiem has faced a lot of criticism for his anti-donation comments. It also includes an open letter from the Algerian tennis player Ines IIbou, also Nick Kyrgios blasted him once. “I want to decide for myself who I help. I supported players long before Corona, but I don’t give names. Donating is a private matter, a matter close to the heart,” Thiem said.

Read More – “I Don’t Really Want to Clarify Anything” – Dominic Thiem Hits Back at Critics

Previously,  24-year-old Matteo Berrettini stated it is not the responsibility of elite tennis players to pay the bills of their colleagues during these crises. The governing bodies of the sport must take responsibility and support the temporarily unemployed tennis professionals during the pandemic.