Wimbledon organisers relented on a long-standing point of principle and decided to offer equal prize money for the first time -- triggering delight and relief among former Wimbledon ladies' champions.
Venus Williams, three times a Wimbledon singles winner, led the bandwagon of female tennis stars hammering on the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club's door demanding equal pay.
The 2000, 2001 and 2005 champion had even said she would be prepared to play the best of five sets like the men rather than the best of three if that was what it would take to close the pay gap.
“The greatest tennis tournament in the world has reached an even greater height today. I applaud today's decision by Wimbledon, which recognises the value of women's tennis,” the American said.
“The 2007 Championships will have even greater meaning and significance to me and my fellow players.”Reigning Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo hailed the decision which she believes will now put pressure on the French Open to follow suit.
“My answer always is that it is a matter of principle - all over the world in different jobs women get paid less for the same work in many countries, than men, and that's not really fair,” said the Frenchwoman.
“But with Wimbledon making this great decision and the right decision the French Open is under a lot of pressure. It may not happen this year, but definitely in 2008 they will have to do it.”World number one Maria Sharapova had also been outspoken in her demand for equal pay.
The Russian star transformed herself into one of the highest-profile sportswomen in the world when she won the 2004 Wimbledon ladies' singles. “Wimbledon has always been a leader in so many ways in the world of tennis.
This decision will only strengthen the bond between women players and one of the world's great sporting events,” the 19-year-old said.
All England Club chairman Tim Phillips said Sharapova's profile had been one of the factors the club's committee took into account in making their historic decision to overturn more than a century of unequal pay.
Wimbledon legend Billie-Jean King won 20 titles at the southwest London tournament and is a long-standing campaigner for equal standing for women.
King thrashed Bobby Riggs 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in the famous “Battle of the Sexes” match in 1973 after the 55-year-old former world number one claimed he could still easily beat the top female players of the day.
She had slammed the three sets versus five sets argument, insisting:
“Entertainers do not get paid by the hour.”
”This news has been a long time coming and I am thrilled Wimbledon has joined the club of Grand Slam events offering equal prize money for men and women,” American King said.“Wimbledon is one of the most respected events in all sports and now with women and men paid on an equal scale, it demonstrates to the rest of the world that this is the right thing to do for the sport, the tournament and the world.
“Women's tennis is the leader in women's sports. Equal prize money is a no-brainer.”Larry Scott, the chief executive of the Women's Tennis Association, last year blasted Wimbledon for its “Victorian” attitude to equal pay.
But he said Thursday's announcement was a hugely important change.
“This is an historic and defining moment for women in the sport of tennis, and a significant step forward for the equality of women in our society,” he said.
“We commend the leadership of Wimbledon for its decisive action in recognising the progress that women's tennis has made.”Outspoken US tennis hero John McEnroe, thrice a Wimbledon men's singles champion, also hailed the All England Club's about-turn.
“I think when you've got men and women playing at the same tournament, it is ludicrous to have a difference in pay,” he told British newspaper The Daily Telegraph.
“It would be setting an example to the rest of society in general to have equal prize money. There's probably no other sport, and very few professions in this world, where a woman can earn as much as a man.” —AFP