Shapatava

This weeks guest are Karen Helf, Sofia Shapatava and her coach Tim Schultz. Shapatava is from Georgia and turned pro in 2004. In a professional career spanning 16 years and running, her highest ranking in singles is 186. Shapatava and Schultz open up about the realities of lower ranked players and their daily lives not the ITF tour. In a chat as candid as any you learn so much about the discrepancies between the WTA and the ITF tours from the paid hotels, cab rides and even practice balls that set apart the two tours. Shapatava and Schultz also weigh in on current important topics like Dominic Thiem’s stand on not sharing his funds for the lower ranked players to the virtual Madrid open. The conversation is driven by Karen Helf and Matt Zemek.