Novak Djokovic was made to eat his words after facing backlash on justifying pay disparity in tennis
Novak Djokovic apologized for his comments on pay disparity in tennis back in 2016.
Follow Us
Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic has been one of the great ambassadors of the sport for a long time now. However, even the best of the players have a few forgettable moments in the media, and for Novak Djokovic, it is no different. The Serbian drew a lot of flak for his outspoken views on pay disparities in tennis.
In 2016, the 22-time Major champion stated that male tennis players deserve more pay because they attract more interest as compared to their female counterparts. This comment did not go down with several fans and fellow players, who lashed out at the Serbian. His comments came after his straight-sets victory over Milos Raonic in the finals of the 2016 Indian Wells Masters.
Novak Djokovic took to social media to issue an apology regarding his views, and also issued a clarification on the same. “I typically use this page to share my excitement with you, especially after big wins. But this time I had to take a few deep breaths before addressing you. As you may have seen, I was asked to comment on a controversy that wasn’t of my making. Euphoria and adrenaline after the win on Sunday got the best of me and I’ve made some comments that are not the best articulation of my view, and I would like to clarify them,” the Serb had said.
Also read: Nick Kyrgios expresses his disappointment over no invitation to the NBA All-star game
Novak Djokovic issued an instant clarification
The debate surrounding pay disparity was a hot discussion back in the day, and several tennis stars were put on the spot in press conferences. Novak Djokovic clarified that his comments were being taken in a wrong manner, and he deeply respects the sport which helped him achieve so many things in life.
“As you all know, I care deeply about the future of the game and all of the players. Tennis helped me so much in my life and being where I am today, I felt the need to speak about the fairer and better distribution of funds across the board – this was meant for both men and women. We all have to fight for what we deserve,” he added.
Several players on the WTA Tour also criticized Novak Djokovic for his inconsiderate comments. However, the 10-time Australian Open champion stated that his comments were in no way intended to spark a fight between the two genders. Despite his earlier comments, it was very sensible of Novak Djokovic to use social media to issue a clarification and an apology at the same time.
“This was never meant to be made into a fight between genders and differences in pay, but in the way, all players are rewarded for their play and effort. Tennis is a sport that I love and that gave me the opportunity to help others who still have a long way to go to achieve their dreams. This was my view all along and I want to apologise to anyone who has taken this the wrong way,” the Serb concluded.
In case you missed it:
Stay Updated!
Nirmit Mehta
(2425 Articles Published)