Karolina Muchova ADVOCATES equal pay in tennis claiming even women fill up stadiums now unlike in the past

Karolina Muchova has asked for equal play in tennis citing increased viewership numbers in women's tennis.

Karolina Muchova ADVOCATES equal pay in tennis claiming even women fill up stadiums now unlike in the past

Karolina Muchova (Image via US Open)

As the ATP recently announced that it will implement a Baseline Program that will ensure that the top 250 ranked players will get a fixed amount, the debate around equal play in tennis has once again started. While the fans continue to hold their opinions, Karolina Muchova has also shared her views on the matter. 

The Czech tennis star has openly asked for equal pay in tennis and has also cited the rationale behind her thought process. Muchova has said that while earlier the pay gap was justified citing the difference in viewership of men’s and women’s matches, the viewership numbers for men’s and women’s are not starkly different anymore and have only narrowed lately. 

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Karolina Muchova feels that stadiums are being filled for women’s matches as well and hence the women’s players must get the same pay as their male counterparts. She cited the example of the French Open final (that involved Iga Swiatek and Muchova) which was attended by 630,000 fans. “It is something that I cannot influence from my position,” said Muchova to Vogue. 

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“I understand that the organizers have signed contracts & new television rights. For a long time, men’s tennis was considered more attractive, but lately, it seems to me that women’s tennis has become more fun, and more unpredictable. The stadiums are starting to fill up, we could see it in the Roland Garros final, that was an incredible experience.”

Also Read: “One last time!” American giant John Isner announces his retirement from professional tennis after the 2023 US Open

Is Karolina Muchova right in her claims about viewership numbers?

Novak Djokovic Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek, Novak Djokovic (Image via The Independent)

These comments from Karolina Muchvoa have surely opened the infamous debate for all, yet again. And as always, there are two groups. While the supporters of the cause agree with Muchova that women’s tennis viewership numbers have improved and are catching up with men’s tennis, those who are against argue that the best of three rule in women’s tennis should be scrapped if both genders are to paid equally. 

Nevertheless, while this debate can go on forever, the numbers also tell a story. While the previous trends showed that women’s tennis is watched more, the latest data points out that there is still a fair difference. For example, the men’s singles final at The Championships was watched by a massive 11.3 million people in the UK. On the other hand, the women’s singles final at the same event had a peak viewership of 4.5 million.

It can’t be denied that viewership numbers depend on a lot of factors like the players involved and the tournament. For example, the women’s finals at the US Open has generally more viewership than the men’s finals. Male tennis players are a bit more popular and that also affects the viewership numbers.

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