World No 1 Iga Swiatek thinks it’s time for tennis to end the gender pay gap between the men’s and women’s game.
At the Grand Slam level, male and female players are paid equally.
But there is still a big gender pay gap between the ATP and WTA-level events.
“I think (tennis) is better than most sports, but still there is a lot we can work on in terms of, you know, getting equal prize money on some WTA tournaments compared to ATP on the same level. Grand Slams are already even, as we know. That’s nice, but for sure it would be good if WTA would focus on that, but I don’t really want to get into that, because it’s a lot of business and sometimes politics. I don’t think I have a lot of influence. I just can say that it would be nice for our sport if it was equal, especially because we kind of do the same work,” Swiatek said, per The Straits Times.
Swiatek: Women’s tennis has become more consistent
Swiatek, who has established herself as the best player in the women’s game, thinks the quality of women’s tennis has improved in recent years.
Also, Swiatek feels the women are now more consistent than the men.
“I also get people who are saying that men’s tennis is nicer to watch and guys can do more because they are physically and biologically stronger. But I think there were a lot of people, for example a couple of years ago, who were saying that (the women’s game is) not consistent and that’s a shame and it should be better, but right now basically I think we are even more consistent than the guys with our game. Watching women’s tennis gives the same emotions, and sometimes even like more emotions, because we are women and we are a little bit more emotional. But, yeah, I think it would be nice if WTA could make it even,” Swiatek said.
Earlier this year, WTA CEO Steve Simon said there have been talks regarding ending the gender pay gap in tennis.
However, Simon also noted that certain circumstances need to be met in order for that to happen.
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