Post by Lisa on Feb 22, 2007 12:10:13 GMT
The Wimbledon Championships will hand women and men equal prize money for the first time at this year's tournament.
The announcement by the All England Club brings it into line with other Grand Slams following criticism from officials and players.
The tournament joins the US and Australia in paying equal money across the board, from the champions down to the first-round losers in all events.
The French Open only offers the same cheque to the champions.
Roger Federer, the 2006 men's champion, earned £655,000 while Amelie Mauresmo took home £625,000 for winning the women's title.
The All England Club had previously defended the difference by saying that women had best-of-three-set matches while the men had best-of-five contests.
On Thursday, All England Club (AELTC) chairman Tim Phillips announced that the championship committee had decided "that the time is right to bring this subject to a logical conclusion and eliminate the difference".
"We believe our decision to offer equal prize money provides a boost for the game as a whole and recognises the enormous contribution that women players make to the game and to Wimbledon," said Phillips.
"We hope it will also encourage girls who want a career in sport to choose tennis as their best option. In short, good for tennis, good for women players and good for Wimbledon."
Triple Wimbledon champion Venus Williams expressed her delight at the news, saying: "The greatest tennis tournament in the world has reached an even greater height today
"I applaud today's decision by Wimbledon, which recognises the value of women's tennis.
"The 2007 Championships will have even greater meaning and significance to me and my fellow players."
Another former champion Maria Sharapova said: "Wimbledon has always been a leader in so many ways in the world of tennis. This decision will only strengthen the bond between women players and one of the world's great sporting events."
Three-time men's Wimbledon champion John McEnroe also backed the decision.
"I think when you've got men and women playing at the same tournament, it is ludicrous to have a difference in pay," he told the Daily Telegraph.
"It would be setting an example to the rest of society in general to have equal prize money.
"There's probably no other sport, and very few professions in this world, where a woman can earn as much as a man."
Fellow American Billie Jean King, one of the leading campaigners in the move for equality, said: "Women's tennis is the leader in women's sports. Equal prize money is a no-brainer."
Peter Fleming, with whom McEnroe won four Wimbledon doubles titles and three US Opens, said equal pay "was just a matter of time".
"It's almost a non-issue in my eyes," he told Five Live.
"The difference last year was so small - it was a symbolic gesture for the last couple of years - but finally the club have realised it's not worth the effort to maintain it. It's equal pay and off we go to bigger and better things."
Fleming said he hoped that any male players angry at the decision would see the light eventually.
"They'll grow up at some point," he said.
"If [as a male pro] you look at it that this is money I'm giving up to them, then I can see that would be a problem. But in fact, it might be an investment in something far bigger and, hopefully, they'll see that point of view."
Last year Prime Minister Tony Blair and Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell joined the Lawn Tennis Association, the governing body of British tennis, and the Women's Tennis Association, the body which runs the women's game worldwide, in calling for an end to the inequality.
Prize money levels for the 2007 Championships will be announced in late April.
The announcement by the All England Club brings it into line with other Grand Slams following criticism from officials and players.
The tournament joins the US and Australia in paying equal money across the board, from the champions down to the first-round losers in all events.
The French Open only offers the same cheque to the champions.
Roger Federer, the 2006 men's champion, earned £655,000 while Amelie Mauresmo took home £625,000 for winning the women's title.
The All England Club had previously defended the difference by saying that women had best-of-three-set matches while the men had best-of-five contests.
On Thursday, All England Club (AELTC) chairman Tim Phillips announced that the championship committee had decided "that the time is right to bring this subject to a logical conclusion and eliminate the difference".
"We believe our decision to offer equal prize money provides a boost for the game as a whole and recognises the enormous contribution that women players make to the game and to Wimbledon," said Phillips.
"We hope it will also encourage girls who want a career in sport to choose tennis as their best option. In short, good for tennis, good for women players and good for Wimbledon."
Triple Wimbledon champion Venus Williams expressed her delight at the news, saying: "The greatest tennis tournament in the world has reached an even greater height today
"I applaud today's decision by Wimbledon, which recognises the value of women's tennis.
"The 2007 Championships will have even greater meaning and significance to me and my fellow players."
Another former champion Maria Sharapova said: "Wimbledon has always been a leader in so many ways in the world of tennis. This decision will only strengthen the bond between women players and one of the world's great sporting events."
Three-time men's Wimbledon champion John McEnroe also backed the decision.
"I think when you've got men and women playing at the same tournament, it is ludicrous to have a difference in pay," he told the Daily Telegraph.
"It would be setting an example to the rest of society in general to have equal prize money.
"There's probably no other sport, and very few professions in this world, where a woman can earn as much as a man."
Fellow American Billie Jean King, one of the leading campaigners in the move for equality, said: "Women's tennis is the leader in women's sports. Equal prize money is a no-brainer."
Peter Fleming, with whom McEnroe won four Wimbledon doubles titles and three US Opens, said equal pay "was just a matter of time".
"It's almost a non-issue in my eyes," he told Five Live.
"The difference last year was so small - it was a symbolic gesture for the last couple of years - but finally the club have realised it's not worth the effort to maintain it. It's equal pay and off we go to bigger and better things."
Fleming said he hoped that any male players angry at the decision would see the light eventually.
"They'll grow up at some point," he said.
"If [as a male pro] you look at it that this is money I'm giving up to them, then I can see that would be a problem. But in fact, it might be an investment in something far bigger and, hopefully, they'll see that point of view."
Last year Prime Minister Tony Blair and Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell joined the Lawn Tennis Association, the governing body of British tennis, and the Women's Tennis Association, the body which runs the women's game worldwide, in calling for an end to the inequality.
Prize money levels for the 2007 Championships will be announced in late April.
