Apr
19
Do top tennis players fly to tournaments on private jets?
Filed Under (Tennis) by Flyer
Ann A asked:


They travel to tournaments so often. I can’t imagine that they fly on commercial planes and wait in airports during layovers. If they use private jets, do the players own them or are they owned by the sponsors?

Delta Sky Miles

Comments

m m on 20 April, 2008 at 10:46 pm #

well if you was a top notch tennis player im sure you have access to private jets…some are lent to them by rich friends of theirs probably billionaires to enjoy going home from lets say wimbledon…

most often top tennis players even if they are in the top ten ranking already just take first class flights on a regular airplane like businessmen to get to tournaments and back home. they probably are frugal and practical with their own money to..and they have a normal life like us regular folks..they wait in line in airports…do boring stuff during layovers like shopping and resting.


lvtenus2 on 23 April, 2008 at 2:25 pm #

Some of the top players own private jets. They did a story on it during Wimbledon and showed Roddick flying on Federer’s plane. Roddick doesn’t have his own and was playing a promo match with Federer somewhere and they flew on his plane. Since they have to fly all over some have their own. I also know some players fly commercial as my friend works for the airlines and sees tennis players on his flights.


catsil_william on 25 April, 2008 at 12:04 pm #

Most of the top players use commercial planes, usually sponsored by the tournament. They travel just like businessman do, in business class or first class and waiting at lounges on layovers. On the other hand, the qualifiers often have to pay their own way. Considering their much lesser prize money, a bad tournament can actually cost them the airfare..

There was a funny story of Davenport not being allowed to carry her big tennis bag in-flight. She pointed to another player who was allowed and the flight attendant said, “oh but that’s Martina Hingis!”.
Davenport was number one at the time.

There are few players who do use private jets. I know Agassi was one, he recommended it to Sampras saying, “it will extend your career.”


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