War breaks out over 'gender pay equality' spat in tennis

Washington, June 28 (ANI): The head of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), Stacey Allaster has hit back at comments made by French star Gilles Simon.

Reacting to Simon's demand that women tennis players should be paid less than the male counter parts, Allaster said she could not believe anyone "in this day and age" would think both sexes should not get equal pay.

"Tennis, including the grand slams, is aligned with our modern, progressive society when it comes to the principle of equality," Sky News quoted Allaster, as saying.

"I can't believe in this day and age that anyone can still think otherwise. This type of thinking is exactly why the WTA was founded and we will always fight for what's right," she added.

Wimbledon began offering equal prize money in 2007 after a unanimous vote in favour of the proposal by the championship committee.

The disparity was previously justified by the fact that men play best-of-five-set matches in grand slams while women play best-of-three. (ANI)

null