Mecca of tennis says ‘deuce’ at last!

By: Poonam Bisht It took 123 years for the birthplace of one of the most popular sports in the world to finally make the female players entitled to the same pay package as their male counterparts. There was a long-standing demand since 1884 (the year females actually started playing as pro in Wimbledon). While the grand slam money has been the same for both the sexes in the US and Australian Open Grand Slams for many years now, French authorities took notice of it only last year (but certainly not without some clauses). The overall prize fund still remains bigger for men in Roland Garros much to the disappointment of female players. The issue is still under discussion.“The time is right to bring this subject to logical conclusion and end the difference,” announced Tim Phillips, chairman of All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on February 22. The announcement might have aimed to put to rest the issue of gender inequality in this extremely popular sport, but the question that lingers on in the minds of millions of tennis fans and female players is- Has justice been delayed (and denied) for too long?Movement against Gender BiasResentment among female players over unequal pay started brewing long ago. In 1884, the female champion at Wimbledon received a silver flower basket worth 20 guineas, while the men`s winner got a gold prize worth 30 guineas. The discrimination continued for several decades with soft whispers against the biased attitude of the organisers. But the soft murmurs transformed into loud shrieks thanks to the advent and rise of tennis legend Billie Jean King in the 70s. The pioneer of women’s modern tennis changed it all. She gave the much-needed momentum to the battle by openly demanding prize money at par with men on the circuit. After winning US Open in 1972, she threatened to boycott the grand slam next year if equal prize money would not be paid to her.