As it happened, meet the new US Open champion: Coco Gauff! The 19-year-old teenage sensation lifted the Grand Slam title for the first time, defeating Aryna Sabalenka. As she lifted the title and received the prize money exactly 50 years after the equal pay came into action for the WTA, the 6th-ranked tennis player gave a huge shout-out to the person who started the fight for equal pay, Billie Jean King.

Gauff scripted history by lifting her first Grand Slam title, but she didn’t leave an opportunity to tip her hat for King, impressing everyone with her amazing gesture. She appreciated the 79-year-old tennis veteran’s 50-year effort and how it had enabled many more tennis players to stand proudly with $2,750,000 reality displaying King’s hard work.

Coco Gauff gave a huge shout-out to Billie Jean King 

Since the time the 12-time Grand Slam champion played the ‘Battle of Sexes’ for equal prize money, every female tennis player has enjoyed the benefit of the cause. But now, 50 years down the line, the 19-year-old tennis player acknowledged the American tennis legend for fighting for the WTA in such a way that even 50 years later, Gauff is receiving equal pay at the US Open.

In a video posted by the official Twitter account of the US Open, there was a moment when the 2023 US Open champion received the prize money, and in no time she expressed her gratitude to King for standing up for the WTA. She said, “Thank you, Billie, for fighting for this.” 

While everyone was calling the sixth-ranked tennis player an inspiration, she moved around with a smile in front of the whole crowd and appreciated the WTA star who played a match against men’s tennis players to prove their worth on the tennis court.

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Although the 19-year-old is also an advocate of women’s tennis and always stands for the right thing on or off the court, her act of gratitude may have impressed a lot of tennis fans. Nevertheless, let’s take a look at what the 79-year-old tennis veteran’s effort has bought for the US Open winners in terms of money.

The high jump in the women’s champion’s prize money 

During the moment, the 2023 Citi Open champion received equal pay of $3 million at the US Open. It was something that nobody expected with how things have changed since the first time the Women’s US Open winner won just $25,000 as a part of the first year of equal prize money. A journalist took to his Twitter account to enlighten the public on the fact that since the first equal pay day, the WTA has come a long way.

While Margaret Court in 1973 received only $25,000 after winning the US Open that year, today on the same platform, the equal price money stand has risen to $2,750,000 more than the first. As a result, the sixth-ranked tennis player received wholesome prize money for her achievement on the tennis court.

Nevertheless, what is your take on the $2,750,000 change that has been seen in the past 50 years? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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