Tennis star Wang Qiang unfazed by financial issues, long break

With tournaments cancelled and earnings hurt, China's top tennis ace Wang Qiang has shrugged off the financial pressure amid the season lockout as she keeps her focus on conditioning and recovery during the sport's long break.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has disrupted sports calendars around the world, professional tennis players are navigating through uncharted territories with no events to go after week in week out while staying socially distant at home during the suspension of the professional circuits.

While some of her peers are craving for the season restart, Wang, however, stays calm as she embraces the indefinite break as a timely recharge.

"To be honest, I feel quite good to be able to sit back during this period of time after having traveled and played over many years to a point where the fatigue and injury had given me a warning," Wang, the current world No 29, told China Daily on Thursday.

"My body has now recovered and relaxed, and I've been able to enjoy some quality time with my family, which I couldn't for years. This is not bad for me at all," said the 28-year-old Tianjin native.

Since returning from the United States following the cancellation of a Women's Tennis Association event in Indian Wells, California in early March, Wang has been maintaining her fitness program while practicing shots on court in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, where her main sponsor and promoting agency are based.

Having prepared herself for the proposed restart of the season in mid-July, the joint decision made last week by the WTA and the men's Association of Tennis Professionals to extend the suspension until July 31 due to the pandemic has hit Wang and her peers with a major disappointment.

"After they pushed back the restart, I feel like I need to take a break as well. Physically I am recovering but mentally I am exhausted," Wang said, referring to the training routine she's been sticking to over the past two months.

As one of the country's brightest stars since the retirement of two-time Grand Slam winner Li Na in 2014, Wang has lived up to fans' expectations on international stage by cracking the world's top 20 last year to reach her career high at No 12 in September.

This year's Australian Open in January witnessed her biggest career win as Wang defeated 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams in an epic third-round battle, which media labeled as "upset of the tournament", to prove her elite status in the game.

Having earned over $4.6 million in career prize money since turning pro in 2006, Wang reckons that the season lockout has posed a financial challenge to all players without consistent earnings from tour wins, but she remains committed to supporting her team that includes her French coach Thomas Drouet and a physiotherapist.

Drouet, who is now stuck in France due to travel restriction, still keeps contact with Wang to offer her training guidance although not being able to oversee her practice in person.

In response to an earlier French media report that Drouet even considered to deliver pizza to cover his daily expense without receiving full salary from Wang during the suspension, Wang confirmed to China Daily that she's paid Drouet a month's wage in advance to help him alleviate the financial burden.

"Financially, I am OK even though we all have to tighten our belt these days. I'd rather provide him as much support as I could than sitting back doing nothing," said Wang. "I can still handle the situation for a certain period of time."

In an earlier interview with CGTN, Drouet said he looks forward to continuing helping Wang achieve higher career goals should the tennis season resume.

"Hopefully soon we could go to the tournament, and start again," he said. "I believe we're still a good team and I really hope the best for her and me, and for the doctor. We think about everyone in this hard moment, so I wish everyone the best and I really hope to see you in China."