Former French Open doubles champion Ion Tiriac has argued against the reasoning for equal prize money in tennis.
The 78-year-old is the owner of the Madrid Open, a combined tournament played every May at the Caja Magica. During an interview with Le Monde earlier this week, Tiriac argued that men deserved to earn more because they generate more publicity and investment than women. Whilst supporting equal pay is grand slam tournaments because ‘they pay a lot,’ he is against the system in the combined events. Once of which includes his own Madrid Open.
“Let’s not confuse business with human rights,’ Tiriac told Le Monde on Monday. “Tennis is business. I understand players who say they are tired to see men’s prize money help the women’s.”
Tiriac has also claimed that other players have the same view as him without mentioning any names.
Last year a debate erupted over sexism and equal prize money in tennis at the BNP Paribas Open. Former tournament director Raymond Moore caused controversy after suggesting that women should be ‘down on their knees’ thanking some of their male counterparts for ‘carrying the sport.’ At the time Novak Djokovic expressed support for the reasoning behind paying men more before later clarifying his comments.
“It’s not right to pay men and women the same.” Tiriac argued.
“When the Williams sisters were having success at times when there was the Belgian star (Justine Henin), or Steffi Graf, they should have probably deserved to earn more. As for Slams, I can understand that they support equality because they pay a lot.
“But for combined events like Madrid, Miami and Indian Wells, I don’t agree.”
Statistically the women’s tour still falls behind the men’s in terms of viewers. For example, in 2015 the WTA Tour enjoyed a 25% increase in viewership to 395 million cumulative viewers. In contrast the men’s tour generated 880 million TV viewers within the same year.
Speaking about the prospect of the women’s tour becoming just as economical as the men, Tiriac has curiously said he would actually pay female players more if that was to happen. Explaining why, the Romanian said he would because of their ‘femininity and graciousness.’
Equal prize money has been awarded in every grand slam since the 2007 Wimbledon Championships.
