Despite equal pay in professional tennis, true equality on the court remains elusive — “Equal Pay But Not Equal Play Continues.
This is a follow-up article to the one I wrote over two years ago, regarding the unequal situation that exists in professional tennis. To review, there are four major tournaments played each year (French Open, Wimbledon, The U.S. Open, The Australian Open) in which women play the best-of-three sets, the same as the Juniors (13 to 18-year-olds), while men play the best-of-five sets. Although women’s matches are abbreviated and certainly not as demanding, both men and women receive equal prize money. This is obviously not fair. Women should have to play the same five-set format to be crowned Champion and receive equal prize money.
It has been this way for 125 years, remaining the most unequal situation that exists in modern-day sports. Although obvious to all, the media and sports reporters will not talk about this. Somehow, women pros are not outraged that they are playing the junior format even though they are adults. It should be demeaning to them. Women’s matches last between one to two hours while men’s matches last between three to five hours. In the women’s format, when one player is ahead by two sets, the match is over, so comebacks do not exist for them, which should also anger them. The men can comeback since they have to win a third set. Without the ability to comeback, the women’s matches are more of an exhibition and should not be taken seriously.
In 1972, Billie Jean King was the major person who fought for women receiving equal prize money. In more than 50 years she hasn’t also fought for the women to play the same 5-set format. During interviews, when occasionally questioned about this, she has given excuses and has even suggested that men and women should both play a 3-set format. That is ridiculous since what makes these four tournaments special, is the 5-set format, which only the men are required to play. The “WTA” (Women”s Tennis Association) is the organization which governs women’s professional tennis. They remain silent on this issue. Both Billie Jean King and the WTA have websites that can be contacted. I encourage everyone to contact both to ask:
Since many in the sport preach equality, why do they remain silent on this blatantly obvious unequal situation?
How is it that the women are playing the format of the juniors?
How can the women be considered Champions since they play abbreviated matches?
Why do the women deserve equal prize money if they do not play the same five-set format as the men? It should be, “Equal pay for equal play”.
NCFM NOTE: Grand Slam tennis still sells “equal pay” as progress, but it quietly preserves a system where men provide far more of the product. Indeed, men are required to play best‑of‑five sets, generating longer matches, more broadcast hours, more ticket value, and more revenue — while women play best‑of‑three and receive identical prize money. This isn’t equality; it’s a political branding exercise that ignores workload, output, and economic contribution. The sport has created a model where equal pay is guaranteed, but equal play is avoided — and the disparity continues because no one in power wants to admit the math.
No, on the contrary, they have convinced themselves that not only do they not need men, but that men have all the advantages and they have none and are victims.
…as in all the rights and no responsiblities?
Women never complain about special or unequal treatment if it is to their advantage. They only complain about things that are not to their advantage, according to them. They never complain at all about things that disadvantage men.
Do such people believe men are disadvantaged?