Kevin Anderson Wants To Be Paid To Play Davis Cup
Kevin Anderson Wants To Be Paid To Play Davis Cup
Kevin Anderson, South Africa’s top player by 208 places on the ATP World Tour rankings is involved in a tense financial stand off with his nation’s tennis federation over whether or not he will play Davis Cup again.
Last weekend, world no.35 Anderson said he was unavailable for selection to play in the World Group playoff against Canada in Montreal and subsequently the team under captain John-Laffnie De Jager lost the tie and is faced with a fourth successive year of competition in the Euro/Africa Zone Group One.
Instead Anderson, who maintained a potential loss of income was paramount in his thinking, was playing World TeamTennis Finals as part of a lucrative contract with the Sacramento Capitals who ultimately lost out to the Washington Kastles.
Now it appears Anderson ’s return is unlikely as he is holding out for extra money and Ian Smith, chief executive of Tennis South Africa maintains negotiations are at a deadlock.
Smith, who insists the whole affair is dictated by Anderson asking for more money, said: “Other players are playing Davis Cup for nothing, and though we appreciate what he has done for South African tennis, Kevin needs to understand where South African sport in general stands with regards to funding and sponsorship.”
South Africa was unable to capitalize on home advantage in the tie against Canada because of insufficient finance to produce a proper venue. Therefore it was switched to the Uniprix Stadium in Montreal which normally stages the Rogers Cup and Canada , boasting world no.15 Milos Raonic and third ranked doubles performer Daniel Nestor produced a 4-1 victory.
Stand in no.1 South African player Izak Van der Werwe failed to win a set in either of his singles rubbers and Smith maintained in the past Tennis South Africa had previously agreed to Anderson ’s financial demands and paid him more to represent his country than his team-mates.
“We have always tried to get Kevin to play Davis Cup,” Smith said. “Last year we paid him a sizable amount of money to play two ties. We don’t have anything against him and we would love for him to play Davis Cup.
“Now each time we play a Davis Cup tie overseas we cover flights and accommodation, and we also have a full-time physiotherapist with the team. Last year, when Kevin was injured in Potchefstroom, we still paid him but this year he asked for what we considered a little too much money.”
However it transpired Anderson had initially told Tennis South Africa he was unavailable due to a knee injury. “He did say he was injured and we accepted that,” Smith said.
“We wished him well and hoped he would be able to get ready for tournaments he was scheduled to play after the Davis Cup. We were disappointed to find out he was playing in the World TeamTennis finals.”
Smith insisted such financial demands from a leading player were new to South African tennis. “Players have never made demands on us,” he said. “Going back, although it was before my time, I don’t think even Wayne Ferreira made financial demands. We will talk to Kevin about the way forward.”
©Daily Tennis News Wire
Topics: Kevin Anderson, South African Davis Cup 2012, South African tennis news, Sports, Tennis
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