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Expenses and life on tour (Amir Weintraub's blog, Tursunov's interview June 2013)

67K views 294 replies 108 participants last post by  BackhandDTL 
#1 · (Edited)
I thought you guys might find it interesting. Israel's second ranked player, Amir Weintraub, who is ranked 270 as of today (born in 1986), has been writing a column describing his life on tour. I translated from Hebrew.

___________________________


In the next few weeks I'm going to tell you about my life, about the life of a pro tennis player, and how it is nothing like you would imagine.

Status report – I'm ranked around 280 in the world. Last week I've won the Israeli championship after beating Dudi Sela in the finals. This was my last 2010 match, four days later and 2011 has already started. My original plan was to fly to two big tournaments in Australia, and then play the Australian open qualifications. But yet again I've discovered how unpredictable life on tour can be if you are ranked at the tail end of the top 300.
This is how it started.

I flew 'El-Al' (Israel airline) To Hong Kong on Tuesday night, and from there I took a connecting flight to Brisbane in Australia, which was suppose to be my first tournament. Suppose to. In reality, I arrived to Brisbane completely drained on Thursday afternoon. It was the first time in my career I had a ride waiting for me, because this was my first big tournament. I told the driver to take me directly to the courts and not to the hotel because I wanted to practice.

I arrived to the tournament and saw black. Half the tennis players on tour did the exact same calculations as I did. There were so many players there ranked so much higher than me, which meant I wasn't even going to get into qualifications. There are 28 places, and those ranked higher get authomatic priority. Even if I beg till morning that I just flew in 20 hours from Israel – it won't help me.

I remembered there was a 75,000 dollars (including hospitality!!) in New Caledonia, somewhere near Australia. In a split-second decision I told my driver to take me back to the airport. The same wretched place I was crying tears of joy to have left behind an hour ago. A call to my traveling agent again. "I need a ticket for New Caledonia." "Where?" "Again, Slowly. N-E-W C-A-L-E-D-O-N-I-A, NOW!" I paid 400 dollars for 2 hours flight.


I landed on 2 AM, weary of four days of traveling. Luckily for me there were two other tennis players on the plane. They had hotel rooms, I didn't. Got lucky again, I spent the night as a guest in their room.

You need to understand that a big part of the considerations players in our level make have to do with how to save costs. Sometimes those considerations exceed the professional considerations. For example. A day after 'floor night' I decided to enter the doubles tournament in New Caledonia. Not because I wanted to, but because to enter main draw in either singles or double means full hospitality. I entered with an Italian player ranked 210 in the world and we were last on the list. Simple math – it was worth five nights minimum savings, in a 5 stars hotel which charges 150 per night.

On Friday afternoon I found myself practicing for the first time after 5 days, in a heat of 44 degrees and 80% moistures. Civilization? On this island I get the internet, best case scenario, for an hour per day, and lets not even talk about cellular reception.

Tennis time. I'm ranked second in qualifications. I beat a local played in the first round easily. Second round I get past a French guy, but injured my abductor as the match ends. The doctor and tournament physiotherapist meet me the next day and tell me "there's no way you are playing today'. I told them fine, but I didn't make all this way from Israel to this hole so someone could tell me whether I'm healthy or not. I played against a Frenchman, former top 100 player, and had one of my biggest victories to date.

Between the tennis and the leg problems, I kept thinking about the Australian Open. When I got here I was 20 places away from making the cut. 'The Cut' is the term players in my level live by. I didn't check it statistically, but it never happened that a player ranked 280 in the world didn't make the cut for Australia qualifications, and somehow it looks like it could happen this year. Every day I check what is going on in the lists. It's like a stoke on the market that wouldn't budge. As of this weekend, I'm 8 outside the cut, and 6 more days to the deadlines.

My progress on court also changed my status in the hotel. From a tenant I turned into a landlord, every day I get visits from 'pilgrims' – other tennis players who ask me whether they can stay in my room. Me, who slept on the floor two days ago, now hosting the new 'homeless' guys. Eventually we're all in the same boat. This thing is costing us all too much money not to help each other at least outside the court.

I lost second round in both singles and doubles, and eventually it was smart of me to come to New Caledonia. But was it worth it? The trip back is gonna cost me 842 dollars! Which means the entire spontenous detour has cost me 1242 dollars. Almost like my entire plane ticket to Australia, and a lot more than the check I got for the rounds I won in the tournaments, but between us – what's money in comparison to the chance to earn a few more ranking points?
 
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#125 ·
Re: New blog post (118#) (16/3/11) - "A week that really happened" - by Amir Weintr

I´m not ashamed to say that reading new entry of Amir´s blog "A week that really happened" made me pretty emotional. Congrats to Amir and thanks for this thread, it ´s amazing.
 
#126 ·
Re: New blog post (118#) (16/3/11) - "A week that really happened" - by Amir Weintr

:worship:
 
#129 ·
Re: New blog post (118#) (16/3/11) - "A week that really happened" - by Amir Weintr

Thank you for translating. This is probably best stuff I've ever read on this forum. Thank you again!

It's funny, reading this blog makes me really want success for this guy - not that there wouldn't be others in similar position as him.
 
#131 ·
Re: New blog post (118#) (16/3/11) - "A week that really happened" - by Amir Weintr

Great stuff once again, he has even improved the level of writing. This is what sport is about and DC isn't irrelevant, not that the corporate cocksuckers or gloryhounds would get this.

Or Levy great work as usual.
 
#133 ·
Re: New blog post (118#) (16/3/11) - "A week that really happened" - by Amir Weintr

Unfortunately the DC win didn't give Amir the boost that we hoped for :(
A quarterfinal showing in Rimouski CH was followed by first round exits in Bath CH, Johannesburg CH and ATP Belgrade Q. But today he beat 6th seeded Matt Ebden to reach the quarterfinal in Busan CH. Let's hope he can advance further here!
Unfortunately getting a spot in Roland Garros Q will be hard for Amir, as he's only #35 on the alternate list...

Have there been any new entries in his blog? Would be nice to hear from him again :)
 
#135 ·
Re: New blog post (118#) (16/3/11) - "A week that really happened" - by Amir Weintr

New Blog Post: Clay and I - not the greatest love story:



Well, Roland Garros is here already and you've probably noticed there are no Israeli players in the men singles competition , not even in qualies. The real reason? A little unpleasant to admit, but clay just isn't for us. Dudi decided to skip the entire clay season, and clay and I aren't exactly a love story, either.


Before you 'judge' us for escaping from the clay and ask how this is possible, then there are a couple of things you must understand. First of all, the success I'm now experiencing with the rise in my ranking is accompanied mostly by the pressure to chase after points. Although I earned 64 points since the beginning of the year, which is more than three times what I earned last year in the same period - it is really nothing, because for three months I didn't do any points, which makes me really nervous knowing that really soon I'm going to have to start defending the points I made last year.

Defending points on clay? Fat chance, it's not worth the travel. This is how I've found myself since the beginning of the clay season playing very few competitions and mostly sitting on my ass, looking for places to travel to. To my great regret, when we grew up there were only two clay courts in Israel at a very low level, and we always found ourselves training on hard-courts. Today we play the price. It's hard to explain those differences, and how little you can change them in such a short period, to those who do not play the game. The surface is slow, the balls bounce high and the points are longer. And that's not the least of it, the problem is that the movement on clay is totally different than it is on hardcourt. If I wanted to compete decently on the clay, I'd have to practice in Europe for at least two months without any competitions, only to get used to the right movement on the court, get used to the height of the bounce and to the physical fitness this surface requires. No way do I have two months to leave everything and train for the clay season.

So, what does the 'escape from clay' means, numbers wise? Till today I played on clay, in my entire career (main draws of futures and challengers) – 6 matches, in comparison to the 281 matches I playd on hardcourts.

At least it's not just me. During my time with Dudi in south Korea I have discovered he can't stand the bloody clay either. Dudi has experienced the same thing as I do, he's already out of the top 100, and as he's unable to get into the main draw of big tournaments he had to play some challengers, and there aren't too many of those this year because of the global economics and the fact the amount of tournaments had been severely decreased. The lack of tournaments and the big demand has also caused the cut-off to become much higher. For example in Paris the cut for qualies is 222. 10 years ago it was 287, so I'm definitely out. So, I returned to Israel to play some futures trying to scrape some points. Dudi also decided it is better to take safe points in small tournaments over running to Paris, where he had to play qualies.

As strange as it may sounds, as I get higher up the ranking I find myself play less. Chasing after points and the inability to get into tournaments made me play maybe half of the tournaments I played during the equivalent period in 2010. Defending points is not a simple task at all and it always haunts you, no matter what your ranking is and how many points you have to defend.

I have dinner with Dudi and we immediately start talking 'math'. I tell him that my situation stinks, as I have 25 points to defend next month, otherwise I'd slide down the ranking. He looks at me and smiles. "Your situation is good, I have 80 points to defend next week, and 20 the week after and 40 the week after that". I look at him and say nothing.

And then I think that relatively speaking, he's not doing too bad. How is Djokovic going to defend next year all of the points he's making now?
 
#148 ·
Re: New blog post (118#) (16/3/11) - "A week that really happened" - by Amir Weintr

New Blog Post: Clay and I - not the greatest love story:



Well, Roland Garros is here already and you've probably noticed there are no Israeli players in the men singles competition , not even in qualies. The real reason? A little unpleasant to admit, but clay just isn't for us. Dudi decided to skip the entire clay season, and clay and I aren't exactly a love story, either.


Before you 'judge' us for escaping from the clay and ask how this is possible, then there are a couple of things you must understand. First of all, the success I'm now experiencing with the rise in my ranking is accompanied mostly by the pressure to chase after points. Although I earned 64 points since the beginning of the year, which is more than three times what I earned last year in the same period - it is really nothing, because for three months I didn't do any points, which makes me really nervous knowing that really soon I'm going to have to start defending the points I made last year.

Defending points on clay? Fat chance, it's not worth the travel. This is how I've found myself since the beginning of the clay season playing very few competitions and mostly sitting on my ass, looking for places to travel to. To my great regret, when we grew up there were only two clay courts in Israel at a very low level, and we always found ourselves training on hard-courts. Today we play the price. It's hard to explain those differences, and how little you can change them in such a short period, to those who do not play the game. The surface is slow, the balls bounce high and the points are longer. And that's not the least of it, the problem is that the movement on clay is totally different than it is on hardcourt. If I wanted to compete decently on the clay, I'd have to practice in Europe for at least two months without any competitions, only to get used to the right movement on the court, get used to the height of the bounce and to the physical fitness this surface requires. No way do I have two months to leave everything and train for the clay season.

So, what does the 'escape from clay' means, numbers wise? Till today I played on clay, in my entire career (main draws of futures and challengers) – 6 matches, in comparison to the 281 matches I playd on hardcourts.

At least it's not just me. During my time with Dudi in south Korea I have discovered he can't stand the bloody clay either. Dudi has experienced the same thing as I do, he's already out of the top 100, and as he's unable to get into the main draw of big tournaments he had to play some challengers, and there aren't too many of those this year because of the global economics and the fact the amount of tournaments had been severely decreased. The lack of tournaments and the big demand has also caused the cut-off to become much higher. For example in Paris the cut for qualies is 222. 10 years ago it was 287, so I'm definitely out. So, I returned to Israel to play some futures trying to scrape some points. Dudi also decided it is better to take safe points in small tournaments over running to Paris, where he had to play qualies.

As strange as it may sounds, as I get higher up the ranking I find myself play less. Chasing after points and the inability to get into tournaments made me play maybe half of the tournaments I played during the equivalent period in 2010. Defending points is not a simple task at all and it always haunts you, no matter what your ranking is and how many points you have to defend.

I have dinner with Dudi and we immediately start talking 'math'. I tell him that my situation stinks, as I have 25 points to defend next month, otherwise I'd slide down the ranking. He looks at me and smiles. "Your situation is good, I have 80 points to defend next week, and 20 the week after and 40 the week after that". I look at him and say nothing.

And then I think that relatively speaking, he's not doing too bad. How is Djokovic going to defend next year all of the points he's making now?
Good question. Honestly the ranking system is really hard on the players, and not only those on the top as it seems.
I really love reading this blog since it gives a true and realistic account of the life of an average tennis player. It is as tough as it gets. Respect.
 
#136 ·
Re: New blog post (135#) (22/5/11) Clay and I - by Amir Weintraub

Thanks for the translation once again, Or. Very interesting, as always.

Sad to hear the mental state Amir is in. Sounds like he needs a mentor or someone to help him think things through in a different way.
 
#138 ·
Re: New blog post (135#) (22/5/11) Clay and I - by Amir Weintraub

Thanks for the translation once again, Or. Very interesting, as always.

Sad to hear the mental state Amir is in. Sounds like he needs a mentor or someone to help him think things through in a different way.
Why do you sau "the mental state Amir is in"? Sounds to me that he took a perfectiy pragmatic decision not to play clay, especially since he is in no position to practice for it.

Good to get this update :)
 
#139 ·
Re: New blog post (135#) (22/5/11) Clay and I - by Amir Weintraub

Very interesting and heart-felt read, thanks Or Levy for posting!
 
#143 ·
Re: New blog post (135#) (22/5/11) Clay and I - by Amir Weintraub

Thanks for the translation again! :)
Too bad Amir didn't play the Fergana challenger last week, which had a very weak field --> he would have been #4 seed! He might even have made an Israeli final against Dudi!
 
#145 ·
Re: New blog post (135#) (22/5/11) Clay and I - by Amir Weintraub

BTW, some Amir updates, if anyone is interesting. He's currently looking for someone to share a hotel room (84 pounds per night) with him, as he made it to Wimby qualies. Really shows you how much those guys struggle.

I wonder why there isn't some kind of ITF/ATP message board, open only to players, in which they can post such things - I bet there are other qualifying players looking to share rooms.

And that's a new photo from his facebook, nice.



 
#155 ·
Re: New blog post (135#) (22/5/11) Clay and I - by Amir Weintraub

BTW, some Amir updates, if anyone is interesting. He's currently looking for someone to share a hotel room (84 pounds per night) with him, as he made it to Wimby qualies. Really shows you how much those guys struggle.


I'll share a hotel room with Amir. Heck, I'd pay for the whole thing :angel:
 
#146 ·
Re: New blog post (135#) (22/5/11) Clay and I - by Amir Weintraub

Damn, he looks hot. Sorry for the shallow comment, I had to say it. :speakles:
 
#147 ·
Re: New blog post (135#) (22/5/11) Clay and I - by Amir Weintraub

He looks like Novak but more Israeli :drool:
 
#150 ·
Re: New blog post (135#) (22/5/11) Clay and I - by Amir Weintraub

Its frankly shocking that someone ranked within the 300 best in his profession worldwide needs to share hotel rooms to qualify for a Grand Slam.

The 300 best ranked baseball, football, or hockey player in North America is a millionaire.
 
#151 ·
Re: New blog post (135#) (22/5/11) Clay and I - by Amir Weintraub

Its frankly shocking that someone ranked within the 300 best in his profession worldwide needs to share hotel rooms to qualify for a Grand Slam.

The 300 best ranked baseball, football, or hockey player in North America is a millionaire.
I thought they paid SOME hospitality in qualifying of GS, pity that they don't, at least something.
 
#152 ·
Re: New blog post (135#) (22/5/11) Clay and I - by Amir Weintraub

He plays Bolelli in the 1st round.
 
#160 ·
Re: New blog post (135#) (22/5/11) Clay and I - by Amir Weintraub

Too bad Amir lost to Bolelli, hope he can continue on make the US Open qualies.
 
#162 ·
Re: New blog post (135#) (22/5/11) Clay and I - by Amir Weintraub

Amir reached semifinals in Penza challenger and will be ranked in the top 200 for the first time next monday :) His spot in the US open qualies should be pretty safe now!
Did he update his blog in the meantime?
 
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