TennisTweets.com

You are not the only one paying for health care. The WTA has apparently added a rule this year requiring players to pay up for trainer visits.

According to what ESPN’s Mary Carillo and Mary Jo Fernandez just said on air during this Venus Williams-Marion Bartoli match, each WTA players gets six trainer visits during the season. After the sixth trainer calls, players must pay up $300 for each subsequent visit.

So if you’ve used up six and you turn an ankle at the US Open, you are going to have to open the wallet to receive further treatment. Cash? Credit? Who knows, but it’s listed as a fine.

Fernandez added that trainer calls are down 33% on the year. What a system. Does any other sport have a “pay for medical attention” clause?

UPDATED:
From the WTA Rule book - Page 317

Court Call Limit

Players shall be required to pay a service fee for each court call in excess of six (6) per year at WTA Tour Tournaments, inclusive of medical time-outs. The amount of the service fee will be based on the level of tournament at which the court call occurs:

(a) Premier Mandatory: $300;
(b) Premier 5: $250;
(c) Premier: $200; and
(d) International: $100.