Wimbledon prize money a 'life changer' for Kubler

The 29-year-old, ranked 99th in the world, reached the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time, guaranteeing him 190,000 pounds ($230,000) in prize money.

Published : Jul 03, 2022 12:03 IST

Australia's Jason Kubler reacts during his third round match against Jack Sock of the U.S at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain.

Australian Jason Kubler said the prize money he has earned by reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon with a win over Jack Sock is a "life changer", adding that it would allow him to invest in himself.

The 29-year-old, ranked 99th in the world, eliminated Sock 6-2 4-6 5-7 7-6(4) 6-3 on Saturday and reached the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time, guaranteeing him 190,000 pounds ($230,000) in prize money.

"Yeah, well, a life changer to an extent," Kubler told reporters. "I can see a physiotherapist on the road more often, definitely more weeks with a coach. I give myself more opportunity to hopefully do something like this again."

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Kubler added that he had thought about quitting tennis after an extended spell on the sidelines following a knee injury in 2016, which led to him taking up coaching in an effort to make ends meet.

"There's definitely been tough times, just like I'm sure with a lot of tennis players," Kubler said. "There have been times where I've gone, 'maybe I'll look into something else'.

"The closest would have been when I was doing the coaching. I did a bit of coaching and hitting with some players. I probably did that for two or three months when I didn't have so much money.

"I was actually enjoying it. I was starting to make, for me, make some all right money, and I was like, 'I could really be happy doing this'. That was definitely a moment where I could have stopped."

Kubler will next face 11th-seeded American Taylor Fritz.

($1 = 0.8269 pounds)