Novak Djokovic has angered the Women's Tennis Association by claiming that "men's tennis players should earn more prize money because they contribute more towards ticket sales," according to the LONDON TIMES. Djokovic made the statement when "asked about comments made earlier" by Indian Wells CEO Raymond Moore. Djokovic said Moore's remarks were "not politically correct" and that women players had "fought for what they deserve, and they got it." However, he also suggested the men's tour should receive more money as it draws more fans. He added, "On the other hand, I think that our men's tennis world ... should fight for more because the stats are showing that we have much more spectators on the men's tennis matches. I think that's one of the reasons why maybe we should get awarded more." Djokovic and Moore's comments have "reawakened the debate about equal prize money in the sport" (LONDON TIMES, 3/21). The PA reported Djokovic insisted that "he was not entering a men versus women debate" and accepted that women face more challenges than men to succeed in the game, including battling "hormones."
Djokovic: "I have tremendous respect for what women in global sport are doing and achieving. Their bodies are much different to men's bodies. They have to go through a lot of different things that we don't have to go through. You know, the hormones and different stuff, we don't need to go into details" (PA, 3/20).
POPULAR CROWD: The BBC's Tom Fordyce wrote "we're more popular -- pay us more" is the "apparently simple" argument put forward by Djokovic, one that "seems to make both philosophical and financial sense." Why "should female tennis players be paid the same as their male counterparts when fewer spectators want to watch them?"
Except equal pay "is as much a myth as it is a minefield." While each of the four Grand Slam tournaments offers the same prize money for men and women, "tennis does not reward its stars in anywhere near the same way."
Djokovic, world No. 1 in '15, "won three of the four Slams last year." He "was victorious in 93.18% of his matches." His reward for that, in prize money alone, was £14.5M.
Serena Williams, world No. 1 on the WTA Tour, "also won three of the four Slams." She "won 94.64% of her matches across the year." Her total prize money was £7.3M (BBC, 3/21).
