OPINION: 50 years after Billie Jean King and Serena Williams headlined a fight, can the WTA achieve equal pay across events?

The fight for equality in sport is a long-running one. With the addition of many outstanding figures, they continue to build tennis into a platform where men and women can compete for glory together without discrimination. From Serena Williams to Roger Federer, Venus Williams For Andy Murray, every big name in the sport has always believed that men and women in the sport should be equal.

However, behind this protracted battle, there is a name that started it all. She is none other than the legendary Billie Jean King. The American legend was a player known for wreaking havoc on the tennis court and the changes he brought to the tennis world.

Billie Jean King changed tennis, but there’s still a long road ahead

Back in 1973, Billie Jean King came up with a revolutionary idea that might change the way people viewed the sport. Tennis, at the time, was primarily a male sport. However, King joined forces with nine other players at the time to form the modern WTA. At the time, players signed a tennis contract worth $1. It seemed like a small thing at the time, but it shed new light on the sport.

Not only that, but there is also the legendary “battle of the sexesThe match against Bobby Riggs was emblematic of that struggle. King’s victory was a seminal moment that transcended sports, but it was just the beginning. The win not only confirmed her dominance over Riggs but also netted her a massive $100,000 bonus.

It’s been half a century since Billie Jean King and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) achieved the landmark achievement of equal prize money in professional tennis. They are joined by luminaries such as Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Roger Federer and others on their journey to break down the gender gap that prevents women from receiving equal pay as men. Despite considerable progress, the battle is far from won.

Fast forward to today, and the WTA’s pursuit of equal prize money beyond the Grand Slams is fraught with many obstacles. While tournaments such as the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, French Open and Australian Open have made great strides in prize money equality, disparities remain at many other events.

Only a few tournaments, such as Indian Wells and Miami, have learned the lessons of the Grand Slams and allotted equal pay to men and women in tennis. These events are a glimmer of hope for progress in a sea of ​​inequality. However, despite the contributions of all major TOs, there are still many people who fail to join hands with them.

Championships where women have less prize money than men

Despite the efforts of the players and King, there are still some holes that haven’t been fully filled by the playmakers. To date, several tournaments have seen different prize money being won by men and women.

At the 2023 Canadian Open, the men’s singles champion received $1,019,335, while the women’s singles champion received $455,000. It can be seen that the income gap between the men’s champion and the women’s champion is huge.

To give another example, the Citi Open held in Washington in the same year formed a sharp contrast. The men’s singles champion received $353,445 in prize money, while the women’s singles champion received only $120,150. Even though the tournament offers equal status to men and women, the prize money is significantly different, which still doesn’t sound in line with their ideology. If the status is equal, why are the bonuses different?

Finally, the total prize money for this year’s Italian Open has increased significantly by 42% compared to 2022. However, despite this, the issue of bonus equalization has attracted everyone’s attention. The men’s winner will receive $1,220,734, while the women’s winner will receive $600,017, which is also less.

These numbers therefore serve as a reminder that despite the efforts of icons such as Billie Jean King and Venus Williams, gender equality in tennis remains a primary goal. The fight for equal prize money isn’t just about money, it’s about respect, recognition and ensuring that female athletes are taken as seriously as their male counterparts.

As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the heroics of legend Billie Jean King, the fight in this sport is far from over. While some events have begun to give equal recognition to men’s and women’s tennis players, there are still some that have failed to live up to the expectations set by Billie Jean King and other major tennis stars. The major difference in bonuses clearly points to ongoing issues with the game. What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments below!

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