Wimbledon to pay men and women equally

[underpants]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070222/ap_on_sp_te_ne/ten_wimbledon_equal_pay


WIMBLEDON, England - After years of holding out against equal prize money, Wimbledon bowed to public pressure Thursday and agreed to pay women players as much as the men at the world's most prestigious tennis tournament.

Tennis is one of the few sports in which women and men compete in the same event at the same time," club chairman Tim Phillips said. "We believe our decision to offer equal prize money provides a boost for the game as a whole and recognizes the enormous contribution that women players make to the game and to Wimbledon.

"In short, good for tennis, good for women players and good for Wimbledon."

Last year, men's champion Roger Federer received $1.170 million and women's winner Amelie Mauresmo got $1.117 million.



He said "broader social factors" played a part in the decision.

"This is a private tennis club," Phillips said. "We don't have public funds given to us each year. We have to justify the decisions we make. This year we've made our judgment and judged it on what we believe to be the best for Wimbledon."

[LostinVA]

1. GOOD -- I can finally start watching it again

[MinneapolisMatt]

2. What took them so long?

...

[msongs]

3. Actually, women are now being paid MORE than the men.....

because they will be getting the same money and playing fewer games/sets or whatever those things are called. men play 5 and women only play 3.

to be equal, women should have been given the same amount of work.

Msongs
www.msongs.com

[mindfulNJ]

4. ya know...

you're right.

Thw women should have to play 5 now...I think they can handle it:)

[underpants]

5. There is much more interest in women's tennis too

From what I have seen.

[gratuitous]

9. Well, and I'm sure the Club charges less for women's matches, too

Right?

[aggiesal]

15. That's how I feel

I have no problem with women getting paid as much as men.
If the work is equal they deserve it.

But since the women only play a maximum of 3 sets needing to win only 2,
while the men have to play upto 5 sets needing to win the maximum that women play 3.

So yes, women are now getting paid more than men. Now, how does that make men feel?

[Buzz Clik]

6. I'm surprised to hear that the pay wasn't the same before.

Pro tennis recognized about a decade ago that the women's game was more entertaining -- particularly the long rallies. To lengthen the men's game, they introduced much softer (lower inflation) tennis balls. The result was less speed, less bounce, and longer rallies.

I assumed that this recognition was accompanied by men and women receiving the same pay. Glad to see it's now reality. Maybe now they can put the air back in the balls -- just a little maybe?

[Marnieworld]

7. me too

I am amazed that this wasn't the case already. Bizarre. It's about time.

[Wetzelbill]

8. yeah, women are the big recognizable stars in the game too

Should have happened long ago.

[AllegroRondo]

10. women get more TV viewers, they deserve a raise

[Spazito]

11. Good! It is well past time, imo, but better late than never n/t

[rodeodance]

12. well, it IS 2007!!

[tabasco]

13. That's very fair.

Men's tennis has evolved into short rallies and aces because of the bigger rackets. Women's tennis and men's seniors still has a lot of strategy. I enjoy it all but the women should get paid the same because they bring money to the sport just like men.

[xchrom]

14. as it should be.

[AnneD]

16. My God...

they must be throwing snow ball in hell at about this time....my my my. You've come a long way baby.

[chang0]

17. Why would they do that ?