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Reactions: Prize Money

Two tennis Grand Slams to pay men and women the same

Most users think Monica Seles and other women players should receive equal earnings as their male counterparts. AP

The U.S. Open and Australian Open both award equal prize money to male and female tennis players. CNNSI.com users were asked if the French Open and Wimbledon should do the same. Equal pay for equal play is what many said, but others say the excitement of the women's game merit's a comparable paycheck. A sample of the responses received follows:

Why not make tennis players, male and female, EARN their money? For the Slams, have an equal base for the male and female championships, then include incentives. For every seeded player to get through to the round of 16, the purse goes up $2000. For every seeded player to get through to the Quarters, up it another $5000 etc... The bonus would not go to the players themsleves unless they won the tournament.

Because the money comes from advertising, television rights and sponsorships, wouldn't these parties like a system where its spokespersons had added incentive to make it to the championship match that gets the most coverage and the largest audience? Television would benefit as well and, therefore, should approve of such a system. Which match would more people watch Venus v. Martina or Norman v. Keifer?

Granted upsets are more frequent in the men's game, but the added excitement of the unknown could bring a lot. This may also stop the complaining about unequal prize money. "Hey, it's not sexist; it's performance based!"
Paul Morrissey, Philadelphia, Pa.

Women and men should receive equal pay only in cases where there is "equal play" - i.e., in tournaments where both men and women play best of three set matches, the pay should, of course, be equal. In tournaments (such as the Slam events) where men play best of five set matches but the women play best of three set matches, the men deserve to be paid more than women. Period.
Dan Hagen, Houston, Texas

Are the 100 meter winners in track and field paid less than the 1,500 or 5,000 meter winners? No. Apply the same logic to tennis. Two out of three sets, three out of five sets... it doesn't matter. The pay should be equal. Of course, we could end the debate by making women's matches three out of five sets or making men's matches two out of three. Personally, I favor the latter to reduce the number of sets that the men are on the court, as women's tennis is more interesting anyway.
Barry, Phoenix, Ariz.

In the Grand Slams, the ladies play best of 3 sets, whereas the men play best of 5. I don't wish to argue the relative merits of the two systems, but consider this:
1.)If matches on both sides end in straight sets, the men have played 50% more sets than the women.
2.)If they go the full distance, the men have played 66.67% more sets than women.

By this reasoning, I'd think it should be the men who should be complaining about the money. And to add to this, while the men have to win seven tough matches, the top women are normally not even tested till they get to the semis.
Nirmal Balaraman, Santa Barbara, Calif.

The women don't deserve equal prize money until they start playing best-of-five set matches. During the first four rounds, the top seeds are seldom on the court for more than an hour. That's weak. I thought women wanted "equal pay for equal work". This is equal pay for less work. GIVE ME A BREAK!
Paul, Nashville, Tenn.

Considering that the Australian Open is the least popular (and presumably least profitable) amongst the four GrandSlams, I am surprised they beat the French and Brits to the punch. I guess those Europeans are still living in the middle ages vis-a-vis women's equality.
G. Burton, Mitchellville, Md.

Equal pay for the ladies. They are more entertaining than the men's game. More people can relate to their game than the men's serve and volley game. The men's game is too much power and not enough finesse. Give me a good ladies match over any good men's match.
Woody Kennedy, Shelby, N.C.

Yes, Wimbledon and Roland Garros should follow suit especially since most interest nowadays, with some exceptions, is in the women's game. Wimbledon needs to break tradition and say hello to the 21st century.
Justin Hesketh, Irvine, Calif.

Yes, there should be equal pay. All of this nonsense about the women not playing the same amount of time as the men as an excuse for no equal pay is ridiculous. They should be paid the same because this is entertainment. And currently, the women's game is by far more entertaining than the men's. What will it take to happen? A boycott by the women (which will never happen). How long will it take? Who knows?
Tovah Jael, Dallas, Texas

Now that the Australian Open has decided to give equal prize money to players of both sexes like the US Open, I think that the French and Wimbledon should follow suit soon. Honestly, I don't understand why they declined to give equal money in the first place because women players have always given quality viewing to tennis fans worldwide whether it's Graf-Navratilova, Graf-Vicario, Graf-Seles and now Hingis-Davenport, Hingis-Williamses, Davenport-Williamses.

The women work hard the same as the men and their compelling matches prove that. TV ratings don't lie so I'm pretty sure the women contribute greater money now to tournaments than the men do. So I believe that the Slams should give something rightfully back to them by giving the ladies equal prize money.

What say you Roland Garros and AELTC?
Ruel Serrano, Manila, Philippines

I have never heard any REASONABLE justification for equal prize money for women tennis players. On the other hand, there are sound reasons why prize money should remain UNequal:

• Women players do not draw as many spectators or viewers, at least not yet. Therefore, the revenue they generate is not as great, and their earnings should reflect this.
• The level of competition among women players has not yet risen to near the level that exists on the men's circuit. The top women, even though they may earn less at each event, win more often due to softer competition. Top women players earn more prize money as it is because of this.
• Women play at most three sets compared to a man's maximum of five. Does not the rest of the world get paid based on how much work they do?

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