Gilles Simon Thinks Women Should Not Receive Equal Prize Money

Written by: Staff on 27th June 2012

Gilles Simon Thinks Women Should Not Receive Equal Prize Money

epa03242157 Gilles Simon of France returns to Brian Baker of the USA during their second round match for the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 30 May 2012. EPA/YOAN VALAT |

Newly elected ATP Player council member Gilles Simon is making waves even before taking office, calling out the concept of equal prize money for men and women.

The Wimbledon 11th seed said that he does not support the concept of equal pay based upon the tennis produced by WTA women. “I think that men’s tennis is really ahead of women’s tennis at this stage,” he told French radio France Info. “Once more, the men spent surely twice as much time on court as the women at the French Open.

“We often talk about salary equality. I don’t think it’s something that works in sport. I think we are the only sport that has parity with the women in terms of prize money. Meanwhile, men’s tennis remains more attractive than women’s tennis at this moment.”

Women’s matches at Grand Slam are the best of three sets while men go best of five. All four of the majors now offer equal prize money for what Simon considers unequal work, with Wimbledon coming on board last in 2007 with the US Open starting the trend in 1973.

Simon was especially disappointed that the Rome Masters 1000 was suddenly turned in 2011 into a dual-sex event with no consultation with men players.

“The year before, the women, for their final, they had 20 spectators,” he told France ‘s L’Equipe. “In that case, you save them, but when you want a practice court, there aren’t any left. Am I going to incur the wrath of feminist organizations? I don’t care,” said Simon.”