The Serve

Wimbledon relents and gives women equal pay

Tommy Haas has taken one for the team. His complaint that prize money at Wimbledon should not be equal among men and women will be a thought shared by many, but expressed by few.

Haas’ justification is simple and antiquated: “We’re physically tougher and we play five sets”. He has missed the point. This is about money, so any argument needs to be money related: Gate receipts, television ratings and sponsorships. Need some numbers Tommy, something better than: “It’s just not fair”.

Wimbledon has joined the US and Australian Opens in this stand of equality. Flushing Meadows and Melbourne Park are particularly intriguing. In Australia, the Sunday night men’s final has been an astonishing ratings winner. The women’s final remains hidden away on a Saturday afternoon. A television graveyard. At the US Open, the women’s decider has traditionally been sandwiched between the men’s semis. ‘Super Saturday’ they called it. The superlative masking the reality that women couldn’t be entrusted to hold an audience on their own. Is spite of that, they gave women equal money anyway.

Haas could have pointed to TV numbers, perhaps eluding to the lack of coverage women are afforded for the first half of a slam. Scorelines of 6-1 6-0 are rarely compelling. He could have asked out aloud if the men’s and women’s grand slam events were ever separated, which side would garner most of the sponsorship and attendance numbers? Those would be valid, accurate arguments without the aroma of chauvinism. But consider this: Last year the women’s money pool was more than 95% of the men’s. It’s so close to being even, they might as well throw in the pocket change and come out of it ethically sound. Had Wimbledon kept the women at arms length, it would have continued to make a statement for the sake of making a statement.

Haas has played Wimbledon eight times. His best effort is the 3rd round. The difference between a 3rd round men’s and women’s cheque is roughly $US2,500. That’s it. For a man who’s made eight million dollars in prize money alone, “It’s just not fair” is not going to get it done.

Much better having a rich male tennis player complaining than an entire sex.