Gilles Simon ©Creation CARAVEO@flickr CC-BY
One of France’s top players, Gilles Simon has made a comment about women tennis players, and how they should not receive as much prize money as the men made and that remark that has caused quite a stir throughout the tennis circuit with his compatriot Marion Bartoli, criticising it as an uncalled for remark that’s upset many people in the tennis world and reopened an old debate.
Gilles Simon, who is seeded 13, claimed that women players spend less time on the court, so therefore do not merit the same prize money as the men who take part in tournaments like Wimbledon and Roland Garros. He also claimed that men’s tennis was more entertaining than women’s tennis, which is a dangerous remark to make.
Marion Bartoli, the runner-up at Wimbledon in 2007, was not amused by the remark and voiced her anger saying that it is only in grand slam matches that women and men earn the same prize money. She also pointed out that women players deserve to win the same prize money as men for many reasons.
Marion Bartoli ©Charlie Cowins@flickr CC-BY
Both players, Simon and Bartoli are just 27 years old, and thay have been competing at Wimbledon since the equal pay was introduced back in 2007. Many other world famous tennis players endorsed the new move back then and still do so today. However, a few players have been heard to voice their opinions too and this is they do not agree with the decision to pay women players the same as men.
Gilles Simon has just been elected to a body that organises the men’s tour called the players’ council of the ATP. There are 12 other players on the council which includes Roger Federer and Jarkko Nieminen amongst others. The role he now plays in the council is very much like that of a union, where any issues about tennis can be discussed and resolved, so this remark has hit the headlines in a big way.
Other French men’s players we saw at Wimbledon include Jo Wilfried Tsonga, one of the top 5 stars this year. Then there’s Paul-Henry Matthieun and Julien Benneteau, all young tennis players who have made their mark on the tennis circuit in the past and will continue to thrill us.