In most sports around the world, women are not treated the same as men. Since the proverbial playing field is unfair, the money women are usually paid is also unfair. The biggest sport in the United States is the NFL, but women don't even play it, for example. Thankfully, the world of tennis is a little different and pay equality has naturally evolved. Coco Gauff knows this firsthand after winning the 2023 US Open and receiving the same pay as men's winner Novak Djokovic.
But you can't lie and think that tennis is okay, no problem. There are still many tournaments where WTA winners are paid much less than ATP winners. In fact, we're so used to seeing unequal pay in general that it still seems almost shocking that Grand Slam tennis tournaments pay equally. Small tournaments are the problem.
One of the reasons women remain underpaid is the investment that goes into marketing women's sports. There is a catch-22 because more money is spent marketing sports and events that make more money, but unless the marketing of some sports and events improves, making more money You can not.
Coco Gauff was asked about this issue ahead of the 2024 Dubai Championships, and she gave a thoughtful and measured response. Her answers made a complex problem simpler. Because the problem is not that complicated. It's all about money.
Gauff said: “I think the biggest thing in most sports in the world is that people watch the men's games more than the women's games. I think we continue to bring in fans. The problem is , it's also about us having to market women's sports better and market ourselves.” Better.
“I feel like in the last few years there has been more investment in the marketing of women's sports, so viewer ratings and people's attention are increasing. Get equal pay like men. We are grateful. ”
Of course she's right. Major tennis tournaments are ahead of most other sports in terms of equal pay. But smaller tournaments also need to do a better job. In fact, it's the same for tennis fans who watch a high-level match between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic or a high-level match between Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek. No matter when or where the matches are played, the quality of tennis is extremely high. Now the salary must always be the same.
