Zheng now allowed to keep up to 92% of her prize money

[Oui c'est moi.]

WTA Tour - Zheng leaves state-run tennis association

Wimbledon semi-finalist Zheng Jie has said she is relishing her new freedom after being allowed to leave China's rigid state-run sporting system and keep more of her earnings.

"Finally I can have my own schedule. I can control my time now," the world number 25 told the China Daily newspaper.

The paper said Zheng will now be allowed to keep as much as 92 per cent of her prize money, after formerly having to part with up to 65 per cent, and could for the first time miss winter training camp to enjoy a holiday with parents.

Zheng, who in July became China's first player to make the last four at Wimbledon, left the Chinese Tennis Association to become a free agent on the international tour along with compatriots Li Na, Peng Shuai and doubles partner Yan Zi.

With most athletes in China still required to join government-sponsored city and provincial teams to be eligible to join the national team and compete in international tournaments, the CTA's release of its top players marks a watershed for professional Chinese sport.

The move followed several years of conflict between authorities keen to nurture their best talent and players frustrated at strict training regimes and smaller pay packets.

Zheng and her free agent compatriots can still be called up for national duty, according to CTA deputy director Gao Shenyang, and are welcome back in the state fold at any time.

"The players can ask for help any time they want," the paper quoted Gao as saying. "If they don't like the new format after trying it for a while, they are free to revert to the old system."

The players will be giving up a group of 17 coaches, eight doctors, and a team of sports nutritionists, physicians, psychologists and trainers ready to give free consultations at any time, the paper said.

Zheng said she would not be far from the embrace of the state, however.

"It is not appropriate to say 'flying away', because I never actually left the national team," she said.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/31122008/58/wta-tour-zheng-leaves-state-run-tennis-association.html

 

[AznHylite]

This is good to hear, for her and for Chinese athletes as well. I love Zheng and her game, so I hope this bodes for her a good coming year.

 

[phoenicks]

"The players can ask for help any time they want," the paper quoted Gao as saying. "If they don't like the new format after trying it for a while, they are free to revert to the old system."

revert to the old system of having some jackass bureaucrats and paying them 35% of my prize money??? no thanks, I don't think any sane person will go back to the old system.

 

[DashaandSafin]

Now we can all bash communist China? God forbid only 92%.

Anyway, the federation did pay for all her tennis expenses as well as training when she was growing, so I guess she's involuntarily paying them back.

 

[Gottabekin]

It's not like it's much better when the US government tax us for everything.

 

[stormholloway]

What's the income tax like there? I ask because I'm wondering if she keeps more than American players do, which would be ironic.

 

[sureshs]

What's the income tax like there? I ask because I'm wondering if she keeps more than American players do, which would be ironic.

It is possible. If the Chinese federation provides her with coach, physio, etc, free medical care, free training facilities and a bunch of other free stuff, she might actually be keeping a larger % of her earnings than a US player.

 

[kelz]

'The move followed several years of conflict between authorities keen to nurture their best talent and players frustrated at strict training regimes and smaller pay packets.'

Talk about control freaks.

 

[West Coast Ace]

I'm wondering if she keeps more than American players do, which would be ironic.

Doubtful. Two words: tax writeoffs.

Anyway, the federation did pay for all her tennis expenses as well as training when she was growing, so I guess she's involuntarily paying them back.

Somewhat valid. But they can only - legitimately - keep their hand in her pocket for so long. I think that debt has probably been repaid a few times over.

Talk about control freaks.

In their defense the Chinese are new to the Capitalism game. And it's a fine line dealing with the haves and the have-nots. And maintaining some semblance of order in their society. The average Chinese person makes the equivalent of $1200. So a pro athlete making a few hundred grand is the equivalent of a very successful CEO. Having gone to the Masters Cup all 4 years, Shanghai is a mix of extreme wealth and poverty that makes are homeless look like they have it pretty good.

I'm sure Governor Schwartengrouper would welcome her to CA - he'll gladly take 9% of her cash - we're running out...

 

[gocard]

I'm sure Governor Schwartengrouper would welcome her to CA - he'll gladly take 9% of her cash - we're running out...

Haha good one. We can use all the help we can get

 

[viktorkwan]

I'm happy for Jie Zheng and the rest of them who were allowed, and decided to leave the CTA's regime.

They were previously bound by the CTA's rules on prize money amongst other things, with the reason being that the country has invested heaps in coaches and infrastructure to get them to where they are now.

But over the last 2 or 3 years, these girls have more than repaid their dues by raising the profile of Chinese tennis players.

I have seen Jie Zheng, Li Na and Yan Zi practising in Sydney last year and all of them gave it their all. Jie Zheng even almost threw up on the court.

Best of luck to them in getting the right coaches, physicians etc on their own now. It's a cruel tennis world out there.

 

[dragonrice]

Zheng is a traitor of the motherland.

 

[sureshs]

One should not forget that the US govt, thru the USTA and USOC, spends a lot of taxpayer money on athletes. The USTA runs National Tennis Centers, and the USOC the Olympic Training Centers. Similarly, the US govt spends a lot of money helping private companies, defense and aerospace companies, and Universities compete globally. And this does not even take into account the recent bailouts. So characterizing China and Russia as spending money on athletes and the US relying only on private sponsorships and "capitalism" is not an accurate picture, and never was.

 

[Leublu tennis]

'The move followed several years of conflict between authorities keen to nurture their best talent and players frustrated at strict training regimes and smaller pay packets.'

Talk about control freaks.

Talk about communism.

 

[Love Game]

revert to the old system of having some jackass bureaucrats and paying them 35% of my prize money??? no thanks, I don't think any sane person will go back to the old system.

yeah. well, i have my doubts about the headline of that story, "Zheng leaves state-run tennis association." I suspect it's just another piece of state-run propaganda. She doesn't have to officially belong to it to keep paying it.

How about ?Ma Ling? is that the bbal player's name? Is he still paying their bball association?

 

[West Coast Ace]

The USTA runs National Tennis Centers, and the USOC the Olympic Training Centers.

I believe all the top US players did it on their own. But if someone knows of someone who got most of their training subsidized by the USTA (not just played in USTA-sponsored tournaments - there really aren't many that aren't), please post. IMHO the USTA should just concentrate on growing recreational tennis and let the private sector create the champions - for all his warts Richard Williams proved it can be done without having Bill Gates money.

But if your point is that the US isn't a 100% pure capitalist system, I'd agree with that.

 

[LanceStern]

So when she was giving her prize money to China to help earthquake victims... Was that by her choice or was it mandatory to take out?

And keeping only 35% of your prize money? Hmm that stings. I guess the free healthcare/training etc. makes up for it

 

[Leublu tennis]

So when she was giving her prize money to China to help earthquake victims... Was that by her choice or was it mandatory to take out?

And keeping only 35% of your prize money? Hmm that stings. I guess the free healthcare/training etc. makes up for it

I doubt if her prize money went to help earthquake victims. It probably went into the central government pool for distribution by the leaders as they wished. This was the traditional communist way. Even Soviet employees at the UN who received Western type wages turned them over to the government and received local (much lower) salaries.

 

[TennisLover17]

Good news. The percentage prior to that sucked

 

[richjohn]

It is a good news anyway. Is she going to pay off all the money the government has spent on her career first? Or the percentage prior to that was low because she was paying the money back? If that is the case, I do not think the previous percentage sucked.

 

[sureshs]

I believe all the top US players did it on their own. But if someone knows of someone who got most of their training subsidized by the USTA (not just played in USTA-sponsored tournaments - there really aren't many that aren't), please post. IMHO the USTA should just concentrate on growing recreational tennis and let the private sector create the champions - for all his warts Richard Williams proved it can be done without having Bill Gates money.

But if your point is that the US isn't a 100% pure capitalist system, I'd agree with that.

Yes that is the point. Whether the top players used the system or not is not the point. Also, many of the initiatives are new. The USTA is a private enterprise and makes money from the USO, but also receives government grants. My point was that "private" enterprise in the US is not as private as people think. Boeing does not win contracts based purely on merit (neither does Airbus). There is a lot of government funding and foreign policy help behind the scenes.

 

[West Coast Ace]

The USTA is a private enterprise and makes money from the USO, but also receives government grants.

I disagree that the USTA is 'private' - it only exists because of public funds - e.g. annual membership fees (and ticket/goodie sales at the USO). Private would mean rich folks directly fund it. The USTA would cease to exist if all the members got sick of the way they run the enterprise - like the people who complain on the Adult/League tennis board.

 

[sureshs]

I disagree that the USTA is 'private' - it only exists because of public funds - e.g. annual membership fees (and ticket/goodie sales at the USO). Private would mean rich folks directly fund it. The USTA would cease to exist if all the members got sick of the way they run the enterprise - like the people who complain on the Adult/League tennis board.

I guess I should have said non-profit and maybe quasi-governmental in nature. But membership fees and USO profits do make it private, because it is not doled out taxpayer money. Some part of their budget does come from government sources.