Former world No.2 Svetlana Kuznetsova has weighed in on the equal pay debate by arguing that women should receive equal pay due to the impact of the sport on their personal lives.
The world of tennis has been engaged in a debate over equal pay since Novak Djokovic suggested that men should get paid more than women during a press conference in Indian Wells. The world No.1 later retracted and clarified his comments on the subject.
Speaking about the issue following her triumph over Timea Bacsinszky in the semifinals of the Miami Open, the Russian argued that the sacrifices made by women in their personal lives justify why they should get the same pay as men. Kuznetsova said that many women put their family life on hold to play on the tour.
“Some of the men say we shouldn’t get the same prize money. The guys that travel on the road, they say they give more than we do. But they can have kids. They can have a family, right? We cannot,” AFP quoted Kuznetsova saying.
“I am a professional. I was playing eight months a year every year. I didn’t have anything. I gave up everything, Friends, Home,’
“I think we do deserve (equal pay). We give more than 100 percent. We give our life. I think we’re owed that.” She argued.
The comments are nothing new from the former US Open champion. Earlier this year in an interview with teleprogramma.pro, she said that ‘men have it easier’ in terms of having a relationship on the tour.
“Us girls can sometimes have encounters with a guy, but then what? You must have children, get married. Some people will wait for you for five years or so, until you complete your tennis career and forth? Guy tennis players in this respect have it easier.” She said earlier this year.
Going into this week’s Miami Open, Kuznetsova’s career prize money currently stands at $19,713,685. Despite edging towards the $20 million mark, the world No.19 also spoke about the financial pressures of playing on the tour.
“Nobody ever counts what expenses players pay,” she said. “You can only afford a team like good fitness coach and physio. Pay a few traveling, rooms, it will cost you a lot. You can only be top 10 to pay that”.
“I’m an investment. And it’s huge pressure. After you do not do so well, you cannot cover your own team.”
Kuznetsova will play Victoria Azarenka in the final of the Miami Open, where she will be bidding to win her first premier mandatory title since the 2009 Beijing Open.
