Wimbledon. Emma and Jack

Great idea. I’ll join you, Pamela. What utter nonsense it really is.

Lose, lose - win, win!

I think this is a good idea.

Grand Slam regulations state that if a player pulls out late due to an injury, they are allowed to keep 50% of the first-round prize money (which is £80,000 this year, meaning they get £40,000).
​The other 50% of the win (£40,000) goes to the lower ranking player from that qualifying round who takes their spot in the main draw.

Before this rule came in, injured players would frequently walk onto the court irrespective of injury just to collect their guaranteed first-round pay check.
Then they would retire from the match after just (say) two games.
This frustrated fans, broadcast networks, tournament organisers and the other player.
The 50/50 split gives players an incentive to be honest about their injuries early enough for a healthy player to take their place who otherwise wouldn't have had the opportunity to play.

I have no idea why anyone might be against this.

My big concern is about the injuries that seem to be on the increase. The commentaries are a litany of surgeries that the players have had. It is not normal for a healthy young woman like Emma R to be having a stress fracture.
Lots of the players are calling for a different playing schedule to reduce this level of injury. I am behind them on this.
Play has become faster and heavier and the toll on their bodies greater.
It is of course their choice and they make a heap of dosh but it does not feel right.

NotSpaghetti and LuckyGirl3,
All of your comments make sense to me.
I knew nothing about the injury withdrawal rule, incidentally, useful to know.
One might dismiss Emma as too delicate for the sport but Jack Draper is one strapping lad.Worrying that he is getting injured. Mind you , Juan Martin del Potro was a martyr to injuries ( it was wrists with him if I remember correctly) and he was another big strapping bloke.....

When youv’e absolutely no idea who these people are 😉🙄🤣

My concern about injuries does not stop me enjoying watching it, to my shame!!!

Luckygirl3

My concern about injuries does not stop me enjoying watching it, to my shame!!!

Nor me, to mine.
The harder they hit it , the more I enjoy the match.
🤔🤗

It is the shrieking every time they hit the ball that gets me. You can easily puff out without adding your voice. The Williams girls would do a sort of grunt, but now it is a full blown shriek from both genders.

Emma is making quite a bit, I guess, from advertising a deodorant

Good idea! That's actually outrageous!

I understand your point*NotSpagetti*.
Wouldn’t it be nice if the players gifted their 50% to the players who take their place or to charity? Neither of those two need the money after all.
Perhaps they do. In that case good for them and we will never know.

I have just looked ip the details of this...

The "open" spot is given to a player who lost in the final round of qualifying.
​They are guaranteed the remaining 50% (£40,000) just for playing the first-round match.

​They then get to keep 100% of whatever prize money they earn from the second round onward if they win that opening match.

​One minor technicality: The player taking the spot isn't just any lower-ranking player - they are specifically chosen from the players who made it to the final round of qualifying but lost.

To prevent players from intentionally losing their final qualifying match (because they know a main-draw spot is open), the tournament randomly draws a name from the highest-ranked losers in that round.

Thought so.e of you might be interested in how they chose the replacement.
I was

Yes thank you. I had never heard of this before.