While the betting issue dogged tennis from mid year onward following allegations resulting from Nikolay Davydenko’s match in Poland in August, earlier in 2007 the game did itself proud by righting a longstanding injustice. When Wimbledon (in February) and the French Open (in March) announced they would award equal prize money to men and women competitors, they completed the circle of the Grand Slam events, joining the Australian and U.S. Opens.
Finally all the harping on frivolous arguments such as the fact that the women only play best-of-three-set matches to the men’s best-of-five is over, and tennis’s greatest showcases are now shining examples of gender equality.
The men and women’s tours operate separately so market forces can play out in terms of prize money at all other events except the Grand Slams. But, in regards to the big four, 2007 will be remembered as the year that tedious debate on the matter was put to rest once and for all.
WTA Tour chief executive officer Larry Scott put it nicely when he said after the French Tennis Federation’s announcement, “the decision by Roland Garros today closes one chapter in the history of tennis and opens an exciting new one that will positively impact opportunities for woman and girls in sport and society.”
Stat-of-the-week: 1. That is the number of British players in the top 250 (125 women and 125 men) players in the world. Andy Murray is No. 11 and the next male player is Alex Bogdanovic at No. 190. Katie O’Brien, at No. 127, is the Brits' top female player.
For comparison’s sake, Frank Dancevic (No. 72) and Stephanie Dubois (No. 106) are Canada’s only players in the top 250.
But that looks much better on cash-strapped Tennis Canada because the (British) Lawn Tennis Association, despite receiving roughly $50 million a year for years from the profits of Wimbledon, has proved itself spectacularly unsuccessful at developing top-flight players.
