Sharapova, Serena hit back at Simon
Source: Agencies |
June 30, 2012, Saturday
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Print Edition
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MARIA Sharapova had a simple retort to the notion that men should be paid more than women at grand slam tournaments. Serena Williams just laughed and covered her face with one hand before delivering her own riposte.
"I'm sure there are a few more people that watch my matches than his," she said in response to comments made this week by 13th-ranked Gilles Simon that has rekindled the debate over equal prize money.
"Look, we women have fought so long to get equal prize money. It was a big challenge and nobody really supported us. It's been a few years since we've gotten that. We're all really proud of it, and we continue to build the sport and make it bigger," Sharapova said.
Sharapova's comments were relayed to Serena Williams after her match on Centre Court.
"You know I can't bite my tongue," Williams said. "Definitely a lot more people are watching Maria than Simon. She's way hotter than he is. Women's tennis, I think, is really awesome. It's a great fight. We fought for years with Billie Jean King, and Venus (Williams) as well, really set the pattern on what we should do."
Simon, however, believes male players provide more entertainment during matches and should be compensated accordingly.
The Frenchman claimed "everybody in the locker room" agreed with him. "The 128 players (in the men's singles draw at Wimbledon) think just like me, that's for sure. Just ask them," he argued.
Simon also noted that Wimbledon charges more for tickets to the men's singles final than the women's. This year, for example, a seat at Centre Court for the men's final costs 120 pounds (US$185), while tickets are 105 (about US$160) for the women's.
Simon didn't argue against Sharapova's point. "Maria is more famous than me. I know it. She deserves to earn more money than me," he said.
"My point of view was just about the entertainment. As in any business or anything, you just have to be paid just about that. It's not because we play five sets and they are playing three."
"I'm sure there are a few more people that watch my matches than his," she said in response to comments made this week by 13th-ranked Gilles Simon that has rekindled the debate over equal prize money.
"Look, we women have fought so long to get equal prize money. It was a big challenge and nobody really supported us. It's been a few years since we've gotten that. We're all really proud of it, and we continue to build the sport and make it bigger," Sharapova said.
Sharapova's comments were relayed to Serena Williams after her match on Centre Court.
"You know I can't bite my tongue," Williams said. "Definitely a lot more people are watching Maria than Simon. She's way hotter than he is. Women's tennis, I think, is really awesome. It's a great fight. We fought for years with Billie Jean King, and Venus (Williams) as well, really set the pattern on what we should do."
Simon, however, believes male players provide more entertainment during matches and should be compensated accordingly.
The Frenchman claimed "everybody in the locker room" agreed with him. "The 128 players (in the men's singles draw at Wimbledon) think just like me, that's for sure. Just ask them," he argued.
Simon also noted that Wimbledon charges more for tickets to the men's singles final than the women's. This year, for example, a seat at Centre Court for the men's final costs 120 pounds (US$185), while tickets are 105 (about US$160) for the women's.
Simon didn't argue against Sharapova's point. "Maria is more famous than me. I know it. She deserves to earn more money than me," he said.
"My point of view was just about the entertainment. As in any business or anything, you just have to be paid just about that. It's not because we play five sets and they are playing three."
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