Tennis was put on an indefinite hiatus last week as the grip of Coronavirus on sporting occasions reached a peak. Within days of the indefinite suspension being announced, the All-England LCub released a statement confirming tennis fans’ worst fears – Wimbledon was cancelled and would not be coming back this year. Players won’t play on the famous SW19 grass until June 2021.

Within minutes of this announcement, a ripple of worry went around the tennis world – not for players at the top of the tree such as Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic, but for the grass roots players who struggle to put food on the table thanks to their tennis skills.

Step forward the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) then, and in some style, with a pretty comprehensive £20 million compensation package.

Working alongside the tennis associations of both Scotland and Wales, the LTA have put together a plan to help players survive during the COVID-19 crisis. The idea is to help players of all levels in Britain make it through this extended shutdown to the sport. Just as the Premier League have donated money to the lower leagues who prop them up, tennis has acted t protect those who are most in need.