Tennis player Novak Djokovic yesterday "once again backtracked" on his comments on equal pay in the sport, "'clarifying' what he meant when he set off a firestorm in the tennis world Sunday," according to Susan Miller Degnan of the MIAMI HERALD. Djokovic, meeting with the media ahead of the ATP/WTA Miami Open, said, "I never had an issue with the equality within gender and equal opportunities in sport and in any other field of life. That’s all." Miller Degnan notes Djokovic was "40 minutes late to the media gathering because he said he was talking" to Int'l Tennis HOFers Billie Jean King and Chris Evert. Djokovic: "What I said several days ago didn’t come across as well to some people. I wanted to make sure that everybody understands that my intentions, not for a single second, were wrong and that obviously I feel very sorry if in any way I hurt my female colleague tennis players." He added, "My beliefs are completely in line with gender equality and equal opportunities. We’re all part of the same sport. We all contribute in our own special, unique ways.” Asked about saying he felt men deserve more prize money, Djokovic said, “I was referring to the tournaments and the wealth that is distributed toward all the players -- high-ranked, low-ranked, female, male, young, old. I was talking in the name of all the players. I think we deserve more of the wealth distribution that is generated in certain tournaments." Meanwhile, King and Evert also addressed the media for about 45 minutes. King said that the “'silver lining' of the firestorm this week has been the 'outrage’ by players and media and the public that has fueled dialogue on the 'equality issue'" (MIAMI HERALD, 3/24).
TAKING THE HIGH ROAD: The AP's Andy Kent noted King "chose not to take any shots" at former BNP Paribas Open Tournament Dir & CEO Raymond Moore for his comments on women's players and "focused on putting the controversy behind everyone." King: "He's sorry for what he said. He was trying to be funny he said, whatever. I'm not putting him under the bus, because I really like Ray and he's done some great things for us. I think we need to put this behind him because no one's perfect" (AP, 3/23).
