Ex-Wimbledon referee Andrew Jarrett makes DARING proposition over prize money calling equal pay unjust
Jarrett feels that since both male and female athletes are being paid equally, then both should play the same number of sets.
Follow Us
Andrew Jarrett (Image via Daily Mail)
The prestigious Wimbledon will be held next month at the All-England Club and ahead of the tournament, former Wimbledon referee Andrew Jarrett suggested a change of rules regarding the number of sets played by both men and women. Jarrett feels that since both male and female athletes are being paid equally, then both should play the same number of sets.
Both the champions from men’s and women’s singles have to play at least seven matches en route to their victory. As the men play best-of-five sets, they at least have to play a total of 14 more sets, depending on individual matches where they either win in straight sets, or four or five sets.
The debate surrounding equal pay was always there at Wimbledon but it was addressed in 2007 under Jarrett. Now that both men and women players get equal money, last year the grass-court major champions Novak Djokovic and Elena Rybakina earned 2 million euros each. This year, as the total prize money will be 44.7 million euros, the winners from both sides will get 2.35 million euros each.
The pay parity was first ensured by the US Open back in 1973 thanks to the efforts of the legendary Billie Jean King. That year itself, she defeated Bobby Riggs with a score of 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in the ‘Battle of the Sexes‘ and her efforts led to the formation of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).
Andrew Jarrett will have supports of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal
Jarrett oversaw Wimbledon’s referee responsibilities from 2006 until the 2019 final. He is a regular face at the Championships, especially during the time of complications about weather or light. The former tennis player, who played in the 1970s, feels there should be a best-of-three matches across men’s and women’s singles events till the quarterfinals, and from there onwards they should play the five sets.
“Equality, in general, is something being imposed, and I think it is an area in which tennis can hold its head reasonably height,” Jarrett said as per the Daily Mail. ”You have equal play but the men are playing more. For it to be carried further you could play best-of-three-sets for everyone in singles up until the fourth round, then have everyone playing best-of-five-set matches from the quarterfinals onwards.”
Jarrett will have the support of 23-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic and 22-time winner Rafael Nadal as both have advocated for three sets till the quarterfinal in the past. Djokovic had opined that as tennis has the longest season amongst other sports because there is a tournament every week, there should be a reduction of the sets in the Grand Slams.
In case you missed!
- Roger Federer DISCLOSES reason why he can’t undertake commentary job post retirement
- “Why the f**k is she everywhere?”- Tennis Twitter BASHES Iga Swiatek’s psychologist for ‘unnecessarily’ interfering in her personal life
Stay Updated!
Gouri Das
(4694 Articles Published)