Following meetings in New York last week, Tennis Australia
and the players on the Corel WTA Tour reached agreement on the
distribution of prize money for the '96 Ford Australian Open, but
"left unresolved the bigger and more troubling issue of unequal
prize money for the women and men," according to a Tour release.
Former WTA Tour Players Assoc. President Pam Shriver: "Our goal
is to return to equal prize money in the very near future.
Nonetheless, we are encouraged by this step and with Tennis
Australia's positive response to the promotional and marketing
ideas the players have proposed" (WTA Tour). But before the
broadcast of yesterday's Tour Championship, Shriver called Tennis
Australia's action "the most hurtful and politically backward
maneuver in all the time I've been around." A boycott of the
Open was considered, but, according to the N.Y. TIMES' Harvey
Araton, it was "dropped, in deference to Corel" -- the Tour's new
sponsor. Shriver acknowledged some blame belonged with the
players, who refused the Open's request for a five-set final last
year (N.Y. TIMES, 11/20).
