Reality Tennis

136. ACCOUNTING NIGHTMARE!

Unlike the majority of working people, pro tennis players get paid in a variety of currencies – most typically British Pounds, US Dollars and Euros – but they can also be paid in Swedish Krona, Swiss Francs, Argentinian Pesos to name just a few. It all depends on the tournament level and the organisation hosting the event. They are also paid by cash, cheque or bank transfer, but generally speaking the higher the level of the event, the more likely the payment will be electronic.

As I have mentioned in earlier blogs (see links below), one of the sensible things to do has been for the player to have the money paid into a bank account of the same currency and up until now, that has been a good way of dealing with the different currencies and has helped reduce bank charges for foreign currency deposits, and also with money being lost due to exchange rate fluctuations. But now with the introduction of ‘Making Tax Digital’ in the UK at least, the fact that pro players are paid in multiple currencies has introduced another headache, especially for those who do the book keeping!

As of April 6th this year (2026), ‘Making Tax Digital (MTD)’ for income tax has come into play for sole traders with an annual turnover (not profit!) of over £50,000. This mandatory system requires digital record-keeping, the submission of quarterly updates, and a final year end declaration via HMRC-compatible software. Pro players who are registered as Limited Companies (usually the players in the higher income bracket) are excluded from this new MTD requirement at the moment, at least.

The fact that the tax system is going digital is, in my opinion, a good idea, or so it seems, but two issues have already come to the fore for me, in my plight to adopt this new way of working.

Firstly, you have to purchase one of several HMRC approved software systems which are supposed to help you record the players expenditure, and reconcile it with her bank account(s). Sounds simple but unless you are a trained accountant/book keeper who has had prior knowledge of financial software packages, then the introduction of this new way of thinking and recording can be quite daunting and for many, it will be extremely challenging. I have taken it on as a new learning experience – a new skill – albeit a little later in life than many!

The second issue I have with this new accounting method is the multiple currencies. How many other workers get paid in multiple currencies and have multiple bank accounts. For sure, the software package I have purchased does offer a multiple currency option but the monthly/annual subscription for that element is unaffordable for players at the mid/lower levels so what do you do?

To illustrate the complexities of a tennis pro’s income, let me share an example from a recent tournament in Bogota, Colombia. My player bought her flight to Colombia whilst in the UK and paid for it in British Pounds from her UK bank account. Whilst at the tournament, she paid for meals etc in Colombia Peso’s via a currency card. At the end of the tournament, she purchased a flight to the US and paid for this in US dollars from her US bank account. Her prize money, less Colombian Tax and stringing fees, was paid via a bank transfer in US dollars.

Some might say the easiest thing to do is for the player to open an account which offers multiple currency exchanges, and this is something my player does have, but there are occasions when it is more financially sensible to leave money in dollars for example (especially when paid in cash), rather than trying to deposit it into a sterling account or converting it into pounds, when the exchange rate on the day is less than favourable.

Recording all of this is tricky and far from straightforward so be warned if your player is about to embark on the tour, and you have volunteered to do her book keeping (to save on accountants fees)! It’s challenging if you are not mathematically minded or have very limited experience of monitoring cash flow and expenditure then maybe consider getting specialist help, as every penny counts with tennis pro’s and nothing is ever that simple!

#realitytennis

https://realitytennis.wordpress.com/2025/06/09/121-tax-specialist/

https://realitytennis.wordpress.com/2022/09/30/tax-and-exchange-rates/

2. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN

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135. A BROKEN SYSTEM

This IS the reality.

When people ask about prize money on the pro tennis tour, I think the majority of those ‘outside of the game’, think that it is equal for the men and women players. But this is SO far from the truth. Yes, of course at the Grand Slam level, the prize money is equal and all credit for this must go to the great Billie Jean King (BJK) and the ‘Original 9″, made up of BJK, Rosie Casals, Nancy Richey, Judy Tegart Dalton, Kerry Melville Reid, Peaches Bartkowicz, Kristy Pigeon, Valerie Ziegenfuss, and Julie Heldman.

But, the reality is this. The Grand Slams (and some of the 1000 events) are pretty much the ONLY tournaments where the prize money/financial support is indeed equal for the two sexes. It’s certainly not the case elsewhere on the tour, and most definitely isn’t on the ITF tour.

At the lowest level – the $15K and $25K/35K events on the ITF tour, the prize money given to the men and women is almost on a par. In fact, the winner of the women’s singles earns slightly more – and when I say “slightly,’ I am talking about less than $200!

However, as a player moves up the rankings and starts to play the higher level tournaments, this is where the disparity really kicks in and it appears that no one is really talking about it, and certainly not doing anything about it! Maybe this is because the players are largely unaware of what their opposite sex is being paid, as the majority of tournaments are held in different geographical locations, or maybe it’s because the ATP (the governing body for the mens tour) make it very hard to actually find the prize money details on their website!

So here are some examples (based upon 2026 figures to date).

The first signs of real prize money inequality is seen at the ITF/Challenger 50 events where the winner of the women’s singles competition receives $6,260 gross. The winner of the mens equivalent event however, receives $9,500 gross (a difference of $3,240). And to make matters worse, and the disparity even greater, the men players have their accommodation/hospitality paid for. The women do not. This item is a personal expense.

Moving up to the ITF/Challenger 75 level and we see the gender pay gap increase further. The women’s singles winner of an ITF W75 event takes home $9,142 gross. The men’s winner gets $17,000 gross (a difference of $7,858). Hospitality in this instance, is provided by both the mens and women’s tournament organisers, but transport for the women is not guaranteed and there is no hospitality for women players who are in the qualifying competition (there is for the men).

At the ITF/Challenger 100 events, the pay gap extends even further. The singles winner of a women’s tournament receives $15,239 gross. The men’s equivalent gets $27,523 gross. A difference of $12,284. Mind blowing!

All of the above mentioned tournaments for the women are organised by the ITF. For the men, challenger events are staged by the ATP.

When the players move up to the 125 level, the WTA takes on the hosting of the women’s tournaments, although it doesn’t really recognise this level and fails to include titles won at this level in players’ profiles. This begs the question, ‘Why?’ – if an event is designated a WTA tournament, a title win should be acknowledged on the WTA website. WTA 125 events are not even included in the WTA calendar (they are separated out) – apparently ‘not worthy’ of inclusion.

The singles winner of a WTA 125 tournament grosses $15,500 – only marginally more than an ITF 100 event. The mens CH 125 singles winner however, receives $36,372 (gross) – $20,872 more than the woman who has won the singles event.

And it gets worse! In summary:

WTA 250 singles winner (Bogota): $37,390 gross; ATP 250 singles winner (Buenos Aires): $102,715 gross. A difference of $65,325.

WTA 500 singles winner (Ningbo): $164,000 gross; ATP 500 singles winner (Dallas): $529,945 gross. Difference: $365,945.

And here’s an interesting one from recently:

WTA 1000 in Dubai, the winner received $665,000 gross. The men’s event had the same prize money but was only designated an ATP 500 event. The equivalent WTA 500 event in Ningbo, China awarded the women’s singles winner $164,000 – a difference of over $500,000! Read that again – a difference of over half a million dollars!

Once a player reaches the 1000 level the prize money does level out (although not always) and at the Grand Slams the prize money is the same (thank you BJK). However, there is the age old argument at the Slams that the women players should be playing the best of 5 sets to justify this. But when you consider the prize money lower down the levels then maybe the best of three sets is justified as an element of ‘pay back’.

The picture for doubles players is equally as bad, if not worse. The prize money disparity is there and to add insult to it all, the prize money has to be shared by the two players.

Some figures to illustrate this:

ITF 15 women’s doubles winner: $477 gross (per player); ITF 15 mens doubles winner: $465 gross (per player). Not even enough to cover travel to the tournament.

It is worth noting here that all the figures included in this blog are of course before any foreign tax is taken off – which can be as much as 30%. Likewise all the figures included relate to the WINNER of the events in question. Spare a thought for those players who lost in the early rounds and went home with a gross income as low as $15 and a guaranteed loss of several hundreds of dollars.

ITF 35 women’s doubles winner: $881 gross (per player); ITF 25 mens doubles winner: $891 gross (per player). Might just cover travel to the venue and some food, but no accommodation.

ITF 50 women’s doubles winner : $1,147 gross (per player); CH 50 mens doubles winner: $1,490 gross (per player). A difference of $343.

ITF 75 women’s doubles winner: $1,672 gross (per player); CH 75 mens doubles winner: $2,490 gross (per player). A difference of $818.

ITF 100 women’s doubles winner: $2,786 gross (per player); CH 100 mens doubles winner: $8,367 gross (per player). A difference of $5,581.

WTA 125 women’s doubles winner: $3,000 gross (per player); CH 125 mens doubles winner: $10,696 gross (per player). A difference of $7,696.

WTA 250 doubles winner: $6,800 gross (per player); ATP 250 doubles winner: $17,860 gross. (per player). A difference of $11,060.

WTA500 doubles winner: $27,150 gross (per player); ATP500: doubles winner: $87,025 gross (per player). A difference of $59,875.

I know the arguments all state that doubles is not as popular as singles; hence the discrepancy in the prize money on offer. But why such a big difference in the prize money for men and women?

It really is time for change. The women’s game is suffering at the mid and lower levels. Players are disheartened and feel grossly under valued yet without them there would be no tournaments to ‘feed’ the top level events. I appreciate that there is more money in the men’s game generally as the men’s game is deemed ‘more attractive’ to sponsors and media but if the income from these sources were to be allocated to one tennis governing body (as opposed to the three that currently exist) then maybe the distribution of prize money, hospitality and tournaments could be a little more fairly balanced between the two sexes? I am sure the male players would not be too happy with a drop in the prize money levels but isn’t it time for some kind of action to at least try to reduce the enormous discrepancy that exists at the moment?

#realitytennis

29. HOSPITALITY

56. SAME WORK, LESS PAY

2. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN

121. TAX SPECIALIST?

13. TAX AND THE TENNIS PLAYER!

28. TOURNAMENT INEQUALITY

54. GIVE THEM A CHANCE!

(Sources: ITF Handbook, WTA Fact Sheets, ATP Handbook, http://www.perfect-tennis.com)

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134. S.O.S.

Obviously the atrocities that have been, and continue to be, taking place in the Middle East this past week are terrifying for everyone, and in particular for all the innocent people who are living, working in, or merely visiting that part of the world at the moment. This includes a bunch of male tennis players who were, until a few days ago, competing in an ATP C50 Challenger event in Fujairah, UAE.

Fujairah is one of the Emirates that makes up the UAE. It is located adjacent to the Gulf of Oman on the eastern edge of the country. I was there only recently, in December 2025, with my player, as she was competing in an ITF W75 event, at the same facility as the one the men were at last week.

Thankfully, a couple of days after the start of the men’s event, the decision was made to cancel the tournament last week, and the one planned for this week. This decision did not come quickly however, and in fact, only appeared to come about after a missile hit a nearby oil refinery, sparking a real sense of urgency in the region.

What happened over the course of the next 24-48 hours was interesting. Initially, the ATP, the governing body for all male pro tennis players, advised the players to leave the region immediately. No easy task when the majority, if not all, the airports in the region had been closed and all flights cancelled. The ATP realised this and arranged a charter flight for players, from Muscat, Oman back to Europe. However, the price for this organised evacuation, was set at €5,000 (c.£4,330) per player (plus an additional €5,000 if a coach was travelling with them).

Now considering that the total prize money for the one person who would have actually won the tournament was set at c.€8,200 (c.£7,100) this flight was deemed unaffordable by pretty much every player in the event. The PTPA (Professional Tennis Players Association) quickly realised this and offered to pay 50% of the ticket price for each player taking the flight, but even so this still made the cost of the flight out very expensive.

Fast forward a day or so and the ATP then agreed to cover the cost of getting the players out of the region on the charter flight, at no cost to the individuals concerned.

All of this however, made me, and many of the female players I was with last week, wonder if the ITF (the governing body for an equivalent women’s event) would have done the same for the women had they been in Fujairah. We will never know but based upon the fact that the ITF doesn’t even pay for the hotel accommodation or food for the women at the ITF W50 events (unlike the men playing the same level tournament), then it would be fair enough to assume that the answer might have been a negative – highlighting once again the discrepancies between the men’s and women’s tours and the need for there to be one governing body overseeing all (instead of three)!

As I have highlighted in earlier blogs, the only men’s events staged by the ITF are the M15 and M35 events (the ‘Futures’). Above this level, the tournaments are organised by the ATP and whilst the prize money at this level is generally on a par with the women’s equivalent ITF events, the difference lies in the provision of accommodation and hospitality. The women have to pay for theirs at W50 level whilst the men do not – it is all paid for by the ATP.

This makes a huge difference and raises the question as to whether or not the ITF W50’s are viable events for the women. Take this week for example, I was with my player at an ITF W50 in Helsinki. The cost of the (tournament) hotel for the week was c.€900 (£780). Flights to and from Helsinki were c.£900 each (we came from the US) and on top of that was food and transport. The net prize money for my player (yes, she had to pay Finnish tax), despite reaching the Doubles Final, was a mere €500 (c.£433), so despite making final, my player ‘lost’ a lot of money which begs the question, why bother to play? Surely the prize money for pro tournaments should at least be set at such a level that the majority of the players can get close to breaking even. And to add insult to injury, the nominated tennis balls for the Helsinki tournament were Dunlop ATP. Yes, you read that correctly, the ball used last week at the women’s ITF W50, were in fact, men’s tennis balls (much heavier), and when asked why, the players were told the balls were fine for any kind of ITF tournament (regardless of sex).

So much needs to be addressed! More on this in future blogs!

#realitytennis

29. HOSPITALITY

33. BREAK(ING) POINT

31. NEW BALLS PLEASE!

2. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN

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133. BUCKLE UP!

One thing I always find quite scary and certainly disconcerting, when traveling on the women’s pro tennis tour, is the reliance and trust, that the players and their support teams, have to put into local transport, in particular taxis/cars. My anxiety levels are never good on travel days but they definitely get worse when part of the journey involves getting into a car of questionable safety, with an unknown driver, who doesn’t speak English, and then having to travel for a number of hours in an ‘alien’ country, where literally anything could happen along the way.

A few incidents come to mind that have happened whilst travelling with my player over the years.

Firstly, random road blocks – so far experienced in Mexico, Morocco and Brazil. In Mexico, we were stopped and asked to pay to use a particular road. The road was blocked by a chain rope, attached to concrete posts, and with a particularly ferocious looking dog positioned nearby. In this instance, if you paid then everything was ok (thankfully). The same happened in Morocco when we were en-route from Marrakech to Casablanca. Not a journey I would want to repeat!

In Brazil, in a hire car (never again!), we were pulled over by the (armed) ‘Police’. They claimed we had committed a driving offence (we had not) and so needed to show our Passports etc. At this point, I (randomly) mentioned that we were in a hurry to get to the Banana Bowl tournament (a top level Junior event), where my daughter was playing. This changed everything. The ‘Police’ suddenly became very friendly and insisted on leading us directly to the venue, to make sure we got there safely! We, in effect, got our own armed escort to the tournament but it was an unsettling experience to say the least.

Secondly, sleepy drivers. Very often, tournaments are staged miles away from the nearest airport and the only way to get there is by taxi. The issue with this is you have no idea how long the driver of the car has been awake or working. Only recently, we landed in Detroit, then had to get an Uber to Midland, MI as there was no alternative form of transport. Half way through the 2 hour journey, I noticed in the rear view mirror that the driver’s eyes were slowly closing. We had to distract him many times during that journey to keep him awake. Far from ideal!

This leads me on to say, if your player is travelling alone in a car, please urge them not to fall asleep, as not only is this dangerous as they could be taken anywhere (kidnapping is a genuine possibility in some parts of the world) but also, they might end up in an accident and know nothing about it. A couple of years ago, one player was being transported to the airport by a WTA driver. She fell asleep and woke to find herself being treated by Paramedics on the roadside, completely oblivious to what had happened a few minutes previous. Fortunately she was ok.

The condition of the taxis/cars that players on tour have to use is sometimes extremely poor. On the WTA Tour, more often than not, players are picked up in very nice, usually new, vehicles – provided by a local dealer as a form of sponsorship. On the ITF Tour however, transport is usually the responsibility of the player. Sometimes the roadworthiness of the vehicles we have to travel in is very questionable. It is not uncommon for cars in some countries, to have no seat belts, so you need to have your wits about you and watch the road carefully to be ready to brace if an accident is looking likely. Similarly, I recall trying to place our bags in the boot/trunk of a taxi in Colombia a few years back, only to be restricted by full gas canisters that were taking up most of the space. Somewhat of a fire hazard I think!

Another car related issue that fills me with fear is when I hear of players who are travelling alone, and who get into cars with random drivers without having given tracking instructions to anyone. One player I know booked an Uber in Colombia for a 4am pick up to the airport (a 4 hour drive), but she failed to tell anyone where she was going etc and did not have a tracking facility enabled. The ‘mum’ in me kicked in and I insisted she message me to confirm when she had arrived safely at Bogota Airport. I was more worried than she was!

However, even with a tracking facility, there is no guarantee that your player will arrive safely but it does at least provide a degree of comfort, assuming there is a signal of course! A few years back my player was travelling to an ITF tournament in the USA. She flew into Dallas and then picked up an Uber to take her to Waco. I was tracking her movement at home in the UK but all of a sudden she ‘disappeared’ from my screen. Needless to say I was out of my mind with worry. But fortunately she did then reappear at her destination. Her driver (whom she had described to me as ‘someone on drugs’) had driven through an area with no satellite signal so the connection had been lost.

Tennis players can be very trusting, and somewhat naive when they are first starting out on the Tour. So if you are a parent or a support team member, please warn your player(s) to exercise caution when travelling, especially if they are alone, and to stay alert at all times!

#realitytennis

12. PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

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132. NEED PROTECTION?

Is it my imagination, or are an increasing number of players entering tournaments with a ‘Protected (or Special) Ranking (PR/SR)’? Maybe I am just more aware of them now, but especially around the time of Grand Slam entries, it does seem that more and more players are reappearing following a period of absence, in some instances, after an absence of a few years!

A protected ranking in tennis allows players returning from long-term injury, and maternity/fertility leave, to re enter tournaments using a higher, past ranking. This helps them avoid a drastic ranking drop due to inactivity. Without a PR a player injured for a few months for example, would see their ranking drop considerably, making it almost impossible for them to enter high level tournaments upon their return, even if they were a top ranked player before their absence. Protected rankings therefore serve to bridge this gap and support a players’ comeback. A most notable example of this is Belinda Bencic, who returned last year to high level tennis after the birth of her daughter. She used her PR to get into some of the higher level events and then she performed in a remarkable way and is now back where she was before she went on maternity leave.

Certain ‘rules’ exist in relation to PRs. For example, players must miss/have missed at least 6 months of competition due to injury, military service, or maternity reasons (10 weeks for specific fertility procedures), and they must apply for the PR within 6 months of their last event. Their ranking is frozen at the position they were at at the time of injury/absence (WTA), or the average ranking over the first 3 months after the last event played (ATP).

The PR can be used for entry into main draws or qualifying events but it cannot be used for seeding purposes, so even if a player enters with a PR that would ordinarily make them qualify to be a seed, they will not be as their ranking is a protected one.

At the time of writing this blog, a PR is valid for a limited number of tournaments. On the WTA tour, the PR can be used for a maximum of 2 (different) Grand Slam entries; 8 tournaments, if the absence has been for 6-12 months; or 12, if the absence has been for more than a year. The player has 3 years to activate her PR ie it has to be activated within 3 years of her last match or it will be lost (except in specific circumstances such as a recurrent injury or maternity leave for multiple births). Once activated the player has 12 months to utilise her PR allocation, unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as reoccurrence of the injury.

On the ATP tour, a PR can be used for up to 4 Grand Slam entries and the player can use it at 9 tournaments if the absence has been between 6 and 12 months. 12 PR entries are permitted if the absence has been greater than 12 months. I am unsure as to why there is a difference between the ATP and WTA tours but as with many other things, a difference there is! Another reason why one governing body (as opposed to 2 or 3 if you include the ITF) would be beneficial, but that’s a debate for another day!

How does a player apply for a PR? A player needs to prove the need for a PR by writing a formal written petition to the ATP/WTA, supported by detailed, independent medical documentation. This evidence must verify that the player has been unable to compete in any tennis events (including exhibitions) for a minimum of 6 consecutive months. Each petition is then evaluated by the Medical Services Committee (ATP) to confirm it meets the criteria for injury/illness. For the WTA, players must submit a WTA Medical Information Form which has been completed by an accredited physician.

So what do we think of the PR rules? Well for starters, I personally think the number of PRs a player can have should be equal for men and women. Makes sense? Secondly, I think PRs should be monitored closely to avoid possible abuse of the system. Some of the comments I have seen online recently suggest that the PR system can unfairly impact the lower- ranked players, despite the fact that it is designed as a safety system for injured players. This goes back to what I said in the first paragraph of this blog, questioning why it is that there seem to be more PRs used at the time of the big ticket events, where some players seem to enter for the prize money but then don’t follow up their appearance with entries in subsequent tournaments i.e. are some players using the PR system simply to collect the cash? There was one player who used a PR to gain entry into the women’s doubles event at the Australian Open this year. Prior to this she had not played a tour event since late 2022. I have to assume she had been absent on multiple maternity leaves but it is tough for the players on the alternate list who have been grinding it out on the tour for months on end but who didn’t get into this prestigious event because of a PR that has been in place for over 3 and a half years. Possibly time for a re think or at least the addition of a revised time limit after which players cannot no longer use their PR?

All this aside however, the PR system is a godsend to women who want to pause their playing careers to have a family. Without such a system players like Bencic would have to make a huge choice of career or children – not a decision any women should have to make. It is also a life saver to top level players who suffer a chronic injury whilst at the top of their game. Without the PR system their careers could be cut short or drastically damaged.

Finally, for those who might be tempted to ask, paternity leave can be negotiated but personally, I am unaware of any male player who has taken this up. Maybe Casper Ruud will consider it after the birth of his first child this week?

#realitytennis

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131. IT’S SAD TO SEE

Sadly the more I travel on the pro tennis tour, the more I see players with sadness in their eyes. Maybe I am just more aware of it and it has always been the case, but maybe it is just because the tour has become an increasingly pressured environment, especially for those players outside the top tier level. For these players the grind is endless and the rewards comparatively small. The days are long and the travel is relentless. Even I, as a non player, can find travelling the tour hard going. Waking up not knowing where you are in the world, what the time is, and what day of the week it is. Thank goodness for mobile phones which can remind us of these things!

Increasingly I am seeing players post on social media about their feelings of loneliness and isolation whilst on the tour. In fact, some players (high profile ones too) have either given up completely as a result of it, or have decided to take a ‘mental health’ break, to give themselves some respite from the endless flights, different timezones and the huge demands these have on the human body.

Even at the top tier level, the demands are huge. Players who left their homes in December to embark on the ‘Aussie Swing’ are still far from home, with no prospect of returning anytime in the near future. No sooner has the Australian leg finished and it’s the start of the ‘Middle East Swing’, with tournaments in Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai (women). Then the players move to Stateside for the ‘Sunshine Swing’, with tournaments in Mexico, the US (Indian Wells, Miami and Charleston) before heading back to Europe to Madrid, Rome, Paris, Wimbledon etc (the ‘Clay Court” and ‘Grass Court Swings’), with little or no let up in between. At least the players at this level get to travel in a degree of comfort and are looked after in nice hotels. Demands on their time are high though and the top players have endless media and sponsor commitments to meet, but it’s harder to feel too sorry for them when they are raking in huge sums of money in endorsements and appearance fees.

Whilst I appreciate that all jobs can be demanding, are there any others that generate as much combined physical and mental stress as pro tennis? It’s not just the physicality of playing this demanding sport. It’s more the physical stress on the body brought about by hours spent on planes and the changing time zones. Mentally it is the constant absence from home; the inability for players to have a social life and meaningful, ‘normal’ relationships with friends and family. It’s the missed birthdays; the worry when relatives (especially elderly ones) are sick; the lack of regular nights out and the simple things, like an evening at home. It’s no wonder that after a few weeks/months, that players have a pained look in their eyes. They are homesick and tired.

Mental health is a hot topic at the moment – far more so than it ever used to be, and whilst it can of course be used as an ‘excuse’ for many things, it is, in my opinion, an issue that should be taken seriously. Players are of course offered psychological help once they have reached the WTA/ATP tour levels, with on-site psychologists, and I would be interested to learn how many use this service. But what about the players on the ITF tour? Who looks out for them? Maybe it’s time for the tennis governing bodies to re think the tournament calendar and try to incorporate a number of ‘recovery/catch up’ weeks at certain times of the year, possibly in between each ‘swing’. This might give players an opportunity to rest, re-group, go home or simply enjoy some normality, before they embark on the next part of the tournament year. Food for thought?

#realitytennis

27. WHAT TIME OFF?

103. SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT

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130. BRING YOUR OWN?

One of the hardest and most stressful things I experience whilst travelling with my daughter on the pro tennis tour is meal times. This might sound a little strange but for anyone reading this who has a food allergy, intolerance or worse still, a food related auto immune condition, you will understand that meals out anywhere, but especially in foreign countries, can be a seriously stressful experience.

I have met many players on the Tour who suffer with some kind of ‘food issue’ and it’s no joke. Players who have severe nut allergies; others who suffer from coeliac disease or Crohns (auto immune); players who are lactose intolerant or who are allergic to fish, the list goes on. How do these players manage to stay healthy, get the nutrition they need, and at the same time, play at the highest level? It’s certainly not easy. How do they manage to communicate their food allergies/intolerances to restaurant owners in foreign countries? How do they successfully avoid getting sick?

Speaking from personal experience, as an individual with coeliac disease, I can honestly say that any player with any kind of food allergy/intolerance, will have to deal with high levels of additional stress when travelling on the tour. Some of the tournaments do try to cater for/assist those with food related issues, but the majority do not, especially on the ITF tour, where meals are typically not provided. Countries such as China, Turkey, the UAE and India, for example, do not (yet) really understand (or even identify) illnesses that severely limit food intake, so it is extremely hard for players with food related issues to effectively communicate their needs, and meal times become somewhat of a lottery.

So what does a player do if she has a food related illness? Well, she can try taking some basic food supplies with her, but some countries do not permit you to enter the country with food items, unless you declare them on entry (and that is a major hassle). And, if a player is travelling for a significant number of weeks, how can she bring enough to food for the amount of time she is away? Of course there might be supermarkets near to the tournament venue but reading food labels in foreign languages is far from simple.

Another issue is the nutritional content of the food a player can travel with. For me, the majority of ‘safe’, gluten free foods, are more ‘snack like’ and often have a high sugar content, which is far from ideal. Nutritional supplements (WADA approved ones of course) can assist with vitamins and minerals lost through a restricted diet, but it is harder to find good sources of protein and carbohydrates. If really struggling with a menu, I typically ask the restaurant if the chef can make me a plain omelette or some grilled chicken with rice, but even a simple request like this can be refused. Whilst in China last year, I survived for two weeks on plain rice and hard boiled eggs – boy, was I glad to get home!

Look appetising? A Gluten Free salad Colombian style!

Players with nut allergies, have to be particularly vigilant when they are eating on tour. Even the slightest trace of nuts can cause an anaphylaxis episode which can be deadly. I know some players who simply choose not to travel to tournaments in India and the Far East through fear of ingesting something that contains nuts. That’s particularly tough during the ‘Asian Swing’ when the majority of the high level tournaments are in countries which are not super aware of such food issues.

There are cards people/players can carry which outline (in a variety of languages) what their allergies/intolerances are, and of course there is Goggle Translate (I rely on this one a lot), but still things can get lost in translation, or kitchen staff can forget or not be super vigilant at avoiding cross contamination when preparing the food. Then, as a result, the player/person in question can end up very sick. This happened to me only recently, at the US Open in New York. Whilst in the players restaurant I ordered a gluten free pasta with chicken – exactly the same meal as I had had (without issue) the day before. The chef cooked the meal in front of me, with newly washed utensils etc . However, he must have been distracted when he added the pasta, as unbeknown to me at the time, the pasta I was given (or something else in the meal) contained gluten. The result – a night spent with my head down the toilet and several weeks of other gluten related health issues afterwards.

Of course, some of the top level players are able to travel with a nutritionist, a chef even, but spare a thought for all the others who rely on (foreign) third parties to make sure their food is safe and they do not get sick.

#realitytennis

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Twitter: @realitytennis

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If you have similar stories to share, please feel free to e mail the author at: sallyappleton64@gmail.com

129. YOU COULDN’T MAKE THIS UP

It’s been a while and my apologies for those who follow my blog regularly. But I’m back and here is another one of my ‘tales from the tour’ and this one you just couldn’t make up. It was so bad it was amusing.

So at a recent ITF W75 event, my player went on court to play her match. What followed was just simply chaotic and all credit goes to the two players for actually completing the match without losing their minds!

All started well but within a very short time it was clear that this match wasn’t destined to be an uneventful one! In the two hours that followed the distractions that the players had to deal with included:

a random young child wandering on court to go to see his ballboy brother;
floodlights coming on mid point, mid game;
bull dozers driving past the court to park up on an adjacent site;
one player being told she could not converse with her coach as said coach was not wearing the appropriate foot ware – a new one on me!
highly questionable line calls – and many of them;
a malfunctioning score board showing the wrong opponent, and frequently, the wrong score;
an umpire who awarded a game to the receiver when the score was in fact 40-15 in favour of the server;
one player asking for the physio to come at the change of ends to treat an injury but no one came as the walkie talkies were not charged;
constant noise from spectators sitting by the court, eating and chatting rather than actually watching the match.

The distractions were unbelievable and as I have said, the players did well to stay focused and to finish the match. But this kind of match occurs more often than you would think, especially at ITF Tour level.

Fortunately the matches that followed on subsequent days were a little more ‘organised’ and the distractions fewer! It really was shambolic!

#realitytennis

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Twitter: @realitytennis

Instagram: realitytennis

If you have similar stories to share, please feel free to e mail the author at: sallyappleton64@gmail.com

128. HAVE YOU GOT EVERYTHING?

You might think it’s hard packing to go on holiday? Then try and pack to go on the pro tennis tour for what might be weeks on end! It can be challenging. You want to pack enough to cover at least the first week/10 days of your trip but at the same time, you have to remember that everything you take you will be carrying so you cannot afford to over pack.

This blog may not be the most exciting but hopefully it will serve as an aide memoir/checklist to players, parents, coaches etc of the key things that need to be in your bag! This is not an exhaustive list and I may have missed a few things but hopefully it covers the majority. Obviously not all players will need all of what is listed – it is simply a guide!

Racquets – at least 3.
Racquet accessories – grips, shock absorbers, strings, anti sweat cream, string savers.
Water bottle.
Clothes – training kit, match kit, casual clothes, something a little smart (nice top, shirt etc in case you get invited out somewhere such as a players party), night-ware, underwear, socks, sports bras, overtops, joggers, sweat bands, socks, warm top (planes can be very cold), running kit, hats/visors, rain top/coat (if going somewhere cold/wet).
Shoes – tennis shoes (for clay, hard, grass, carpet – according to the tournaments), casual shoes, trainers, flip flops/slides.
Passport, Visas, Drivers License, Travel Insurance Policy, Invitation Letters from foreign tennis federations (if needed), copies of key documents (ideally kept in a hidden file on your phone).
Devices – phone, ipad (with shows downloaded for the flight), PC, Fire-stick. camera, Whoop, Smart watch, charging leads, power adaptor, game console, power bank (check if permissible on chosen flight).
Toiletries – general and also a mini set of the key things (shampoo, toothpaste, conditioner etc) in hand luggage.
Jewellery – limited amount. I only take what I am wearing.
Laundry items – bag, washing powder (for hand wash), piece of string (washing line), handful of pegs.
Medications and first aid – suncreen, bug spray, painkillers, tape, plasters (standard and blister).
Training kit – gym bands, skipping rope.
Supplements – protein powder, hydration tablets, vitamins.
Sundries – book(s), diary, note pad, pen, lucky charm.
Purse, credit card, currency card, cash.
Snacks – for the journey and also as meal replacements if you/your player has a food allergy/auto immune disease (from example, coeliac) and cannot always eat the local food.
House keys, car keys, AppleTags (or equivalent -inside your checked bags).

I always try and pack a spare set of clothes/toiletries etc in my hand luggage for the first couple of days just in case my bags get lost (and they have on numerous occasions). Packing cubes are a ‘must’ – as they allow you to cram much more into your bags than without. Also, it is worth making a note of what you have packed as insurance companies/airlines will ask for full details of the all the contents of your bag(s), and their value, if you have to make a claim in the event of lost luggage. You will be amazed the value of all your possessions when itemised out. A pro tennis player can be carrying luggage worth c.£4k + – when you include racquets, shoes, branded ket etc. so it is worth having a note of all that you take. A bit of a chore I know, but trust me, you will thank yourself if your luggage does get lost.

And finally, take a photo of your bags before they go on that conveyor belt and go on their journey to the hold of your plane. Check that the luggage tag is readable (if not request a new one) and if possible travel with brightly coloured luggage as opposed to black. Easier to spot when at baggage reclaim or if your bags do go astray somewhere. I speak from experience – a brightly coloured bag in a sea of black bags at Lost Luggage really does make a difference!

#realitytennis

7. LOST BAGS!

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Twitter: @realitytennis

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If you have similar stories to share, please feel free to e mail the author at: sallyappleton64@gmail.com

127. POPPING OUT ONCE AGAIN!

As I have mentioned before, one of the benefits of travelling on the pro tennis tour with a player is that I get to meet all sorts of interesting people, all of whom have a similar interest in tennis as myself.

These people might be players (current and former), coaches, parents, equipment suppliers, sponsors, organisers, officials or commentators and presenters. Each and everyone is a delight to speak to as they all have stories to tell from the tour, and it is always nice to catch up with people and make new connections from around the globe.

One such commentator, whom I have know for a few years now, is Candy Reid – a former tennis player, coach and CNN sports anchor – who is now one of the main faces/voices at all the top level tennis events.

Candy is well known on the tour and is a delight to speak to. She has a wealth of knowledge from her own personal experiences but is always keen to find out more from the people she meets.

Candy and I met about 10 years ago when she was playing County Cup for Surrey in the UK. My player was also on the team and hence the connection was made. Fast forward a few years and our paths have crossed many times but most recently at Wimbledon, SW19, and it was then that she invited me to be a guest on her Podcast, ‘Diary of a Professional Tennis Coach’. She had read some of my blogs and was keen to know more.

So a new podcast came about (link below) and I have to say, it was a fun thing to do as it gave me (another) chance to chat about the realities of life on the pro tennis tour (from a parent’s perspective) and of course, promote my Blog to listeners who may not have yet found it!

https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sally-appleton/id1747181401?i=1000720548592

Doing things like this have been a welcome offshoot from my series of blogs and illustrate how one thing in tennis can easily lead to another. The same can be said for the players themselves as there are quite a number who have featured in adverts, modelling shoots, on podcasts or in Netflix and YouTube programmes. A link to the most recent LTA ‘Beyond the Baseline’ Series is below, and if you look closely you may even see a blogging parent in a few frames.

So it’s not all intensive training, matches and travelling on the tour. There are fun interludes as well and doing the podcasts has been one of them for me. Hopefully if you are reading this then you will also take the time to ‘click on the link(s)’ and have a listen to hear some of the good, the bad and the realities first hand!

#realitytennis

71. POPPING OUT FOR A PODCAST!

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Twitter: @realitytennis

Instagram: realitytennis

If you have similar stories to share, please feel free to e mail the author at: sallyappleton64@gmail.com

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