feature-image
feature-image

The discussion about the pay gap between male and female players has always been ever-present in the realm of sports. Achieving the same pay for both the men’s and women’s divisions in the sport is a step towards gender equality. Right from Serena Williams to Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, many players have spoken about the cause. Recently, WTA world number 1 Iga Swiatek and number 4 Jessica Pegula joined them, as they gave their views about the fight for equal pay in tennis.

Terrell Owens holding Dude Wipes XL

Jessica Pegula and Iga Swiatek on equal pay

Watch What’s Trending Now!

Recently, Jessica Pegula and Iga Swiatek interviewed with Tennis Majors. They questioned the two about their opinion on the pay differences between men and women in the sport.

ADVERTISEMENT

article-image

USA Today via Reuters

Pegula believed that increasing the exposure of WTA is the key to reducing the gap. She further said that since she is on the player council for the WTA, they have attempted increasing exposure. Her efforts have been a success, as she has seen herself.

ADVERTISEMENT

I hope obviously we can keep pushing for equal prize money at all events,” said the world number 3. “I think we’re starting to see slowly, more of it, especially with United Cup, the response of everyone wanting to see men and women playing on the same court, on the same team.

Read more – ‘Women Have Been Putting in the Work’- Naomi Osaka Shuts Down a Journalist on Equal Pay at Miami Open 2022

ADVERTISEMENT

Pegula also said that increasing the exposure was the main challenge. Inspiring the next generation was a big part of it, as they are fighting for their pay currently.

Iga Swiatek isn’t far behind her fellow player. She believes the correct path is for the WTA to expand in the realms of business. That would help the WTA to come closer to the ATP regarding the prize money and attracting fans. “For sure I would like to see WTA kind of, I don’t know, expanding business-wise, getting more popular, kind of cutting the difference between WTA and ATP in terms of prize money differences, and also attracting fans as well.

ADVERTISEMENT

Watch this story – ‘Tech Titan’ Alexis Ohanian Rewinds Monumental Time With Wife Serena Williams As He Paid a Whopping Six-Figure Tribute to the Sporting Icon

Both the players are at the top of the WTA currently and will most likely never stop fighting till they have the same pay as their ATP peers.

ADVERTISEMENT

What are your thoughts on the gender pay gap in tennis? Give us your thoughts in the comments below.

Share this with a friend:

Link Copied!

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Written by

author-image

Ripunjay Gaba

1,821 Articles

Ripunjay Gaba, a tennis enthusiast-turned-journalist at EssentiallySports, found his way from freelance sports journalism to the publishing house in ES. Here, his writing canvas encompasses the game specifics while finding poetic resonance in covering major sporting events. Ripunjay, a perpetual upgrader, uses avid reading to bring varied flavor to his Tennis reporting. From the Netflix Documentary Break Point to the various Tennis podcasts, his coverage stays diverse. Beyond the world of articles, he extends this commitment to physical well-being with regular workouts, infusing dynamism into both the narratives he crafts and the life he lives. In Ripunjay's world, every keystroke is a step closer to unraveling the essence of tennis.

Know more

Edited by

editor-image

Tony Thomas

ADVERTISEMENT