old article on Aussie Open stringing conflict

[kkm]

Racquet stringers stung by tighter purse strings


January 5, 2009



As purse strings draw tighter in the global economic crisis, veteran racquet stringers have felt the pinch ahead of the Australian Open and their boss fears the players might also suffer.
Some of Australia's most experienced stringers have been dumped from the 2009 Australian Open in favour of stringers from the US who will work for sporting giant Wilson at cheaper rates.
Local company Top Serve Tennis lost the tender to Wilson after working the Grand Slam event for the past three years.
Top Serve Tennis director Ron Kohn told AAP that Tennis Australia changed the original terms of the contract and his company would have been $80,000 out of pocket.
"It was disappointing, over the past few years we've really raised the bar as far as stringing services go," Kohn said.
"There are only about 20 guys in the world who are capable of stringing 50 racquets a day - and number 50 is just as perfect as number one.
"I know the guys they (Wilson) have are not any of the top guys so it's a make shift team just to get the job done, but it's not going to be done anywhere near the quality it needs to be. The quality will be down.
"They're (Wilson) paying their stringers peanuts."
Kohn has said the Wilson stringers would be paid $175 a day, which was well down on the standard payment of $10 a racquet.
He said although Wilson had probably taken a loss on the contract, the publicity was invaluable and it also gave the company access to players sponsored by other brands.
Kohn, who is one of only four master racquet technicians in Australia, says he has since been approached by the other racquet companies to run a stringing operation at the players' Melbourne hotel.
"Wilson, number one, is after exposure and, number two, is after access to other players whose contracts are up," Kohn said.
"Tennis Australia don't recognise what they've done as being a conflict of interest.
"If you're Head, or if you're Yonex, you don't want your sponsored players going to Wilson."
At this stage Kohn won't take up the offer as he said he wants to to see Wilson "drown".
Adelaide-based Mike Newbound, who has been stringing the world's top players' racquets for about 30 years and is working at the Brisbane International, has also missed out.
He is a veteran of seven Grand Slams, seven Davis Cups and 26 hardcourt championships who feels letdown that the stringing operation will be largely manned by Americans.
Only two Australians are stringing racquets for Wilson.
"We've been sold out," Newbound told AAP.
"The Australian Open has lost its identity. I can't get a job."
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley has so far declined to comment.
AAP

http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport...r-purse-strings/2009/01/05/1231003922649.html

 

[drakulie]

^^wow. that's an interesting read. anyone else have more info on this??

 

[kkm]

It's a pity, but goes to show that the proverbial 800-lb gorilla too often gets his way, and as usual, money talks the loudest. I wonder if Wilson threw a pile of cash at Tennis Australia?

 

[equinox]

it's a disgrace.

 

[themitchmann]

I think the biggest issue is the amount per racquet that this article claims the stringers are being paid. $10 a racquet? You can make more than that in a regular pro shop. That's just not right.

I'm sure the Wilson team is capable, but it is the Aussie Open. Tennis Australia should be taking care of their countrymen.

 

[equinox]

I think the biggest issue is the amount per racquet that this article claims the stringers are being paid. $10 a racquet? You can make more than that in a regular pro shop. That's just not right.

I'm sure the Wilson team is capable, but it is the Aussie Open. Tennis Australia should be taking care of their countrymen.

i'm taking a guess that the old luxilon cost from t0ps3rve would've been edging towards $60 racquet in 2011. which i'd consider a fair cost for tour / mrt stringers.

instead we get wilson bringing in the imports for $175 a day. along with amer sports giving discounted luxilon to pros, they can offer $45 stringjobs. and now they automatically take the string fees out of pro's ao cheque. no more chasing $.

that's $5-15 lower lux alu cost than my local sports store and pro shop.

i've always considered $10 racquet to be low. but considering the volume over the tournament it can still amount to decent payday "before" expenses.

10 days x conservative 30 racquets = 300 racquets x $10 = $3000

return economy ticket from chicago costs $1900-2000

minimum of $90 night twin shared dumpster. $900

already upto $2800-2900 before meals ($30 day) and shopping trip ($$$)

There's no way the foreign stringers do it for money. oldies probably for comradeship and networking opportunities or to avoid the wife. for younger ones to pad the resume with overseas experience. certainly not to party every 2nd night!!

here's a new comer to wilson team.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QpdmgEnDrQ

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=273977&id=62172152346

 

[uk_skippy]

^^^^What we don't know, unless a stringer from the Wilson team posts here and even then they may not say or be allowed to say, is the full deal for the stringer. The amount paid per day could be bumped up if Wilson pay for accommodation for the stringers & their onsite meals. That would push up the daily rate by a few $$$. The overall daily rate could be in the region of $250.

Also, 10 days at 30 rqts sounds good, but having strung at Wimbledon for the 7 years, and during the busiest times, you won't get 10 days of 30 rqts. You could get around 35 rqts for the beginning of the tournament, but by day 7 or 8 its likely to be down to around 20, and by day 10, it could be around 10 rqts. Of course, string for someone like Rafa, Venus or Serena and they'll keep you busy alone with about 6-8 a day.

Regards

Paul

 

[jazar]

I think the biggest issue is the amount per racquet that this article claims the stringers are being paid. $10 a racquet? You can make more than that in a regular pro shop. That's just not right.

Tournament stringing isn't really about the money; its about the prestige.

 

[themitchmann]

Tournament stringing isn't really about the money; its about the prestige.

I understand. However, I feel that these stringers are usually very accomplished and therefore deserve fair pay for their expertise.