TENNIS LEGENDS VODCAST WITH NOAH RUBIN

On the financial challenges players are facing at the moment
You know, I am almost hoping that it hits rock bottom. And that’s a really rough thing to say. But I am hoping because I have spoken to ATP and WTA before and the urgency to change tennis and to make little changes here and there hasn’t been there. So, I am hoping that rock bottom almost like lights a fire under their buts and says ‘hey, we’re in trouble. Other sports aren’t in trouble as much as we are, let’s do something to change this. 

On how to improve the sport as a whole
To make sure that when we get back, we’re hitting the ground running. Because you see this in society, in cultures we have in crazy times like this. Societies either crumble or they evolve, and they improve. And I think we really can improve if we put all the minds together. We have some of the most incredible minds in the world in the sport of tennis. And I think we can use everything together. The brands and all the actual money that comes out of it and create something that’s bigger and better than ever. But at the same time, through the conversations I had so far, I’m worried. I’m worried about the state of tennis when we’re coming back.

I’m worried that we’ not taking the chances and that we’re not going to change little things here and there. But they’re just going to be small band aids, they don’t really fix what I obviously find broken right now.

On how he is dealing with the current situation
Right now, especially with my injury and getting outside the Top 200, there’s basically no money coming in. I was fortunate that some of my better results were had at Slams, where the money is 10 times the amount of let’s say Challengers or 250 events. So, that has helped me stay afloat with also – I didn’t really travel with coaches too often. I was doing of it by myself. So, when I am talking to my friends right now and within the next 2,3-4 months they are going to be questioning how they are going to pay for rent or their mortgage or whatever their case might be. So, it’s been, and it is a really tough time and obviously I am working with a lot of people to see what can be done or if this can just at least enable change in tennis. 

On resolving the financial issues faced by players
To say; hey we can’t even help players at a 150 in the world when we’re having these issues. There must be something wrong with the sport or the system itself. You know, it’s a struggle. It’s a struggle to be in this situation and I have a lot of friends in the same situation, but luckily, I am not the worst off. You go to somebody that has been 250 in the world for a couple of years now – I spent most of my career top 200 and got some money – but somebody 250, they are already questioning how they are paying for rent. So, it’s a really difficult time right now.

Noah Rubin was speaking exclusively to Eurosport's Tennis Legends podcast alongside Ons Jabeur. Download the full podcast from Thursday evening (23 April).