Paula Badosa has expressed her perspective on the pay gap between men and women in professional tennis, stating that she finds it fair.
The pay gap debate in tennis has been a contentious issue, often avoided by players and coaches.
While the idea of equal pay for equal work seems straightforward, the reality in tennis has always shown disparities in earnings between male and female players.
Prize money at Grand Slams and major events has been equalized, but Badosa believes that the discrepancy in pay is justified by the differing popularity and revenue generated between men’s and women’s tennis.
Despite calls from many players to address the pay gap, Badosa remains unfazed. She argues that it aligns with the amount of revenue generated by each gender’s tennis tours.
Badosa emphasizes that men’s tennis is more commercially successful globally, leading to higher earnings for male players, a situation she views as proportional to generated income.
“I have always been very clear that we are what we generate, regardless of gender. Are there differences? Maybe there are, but because men’s tennis generates more than women’s, just as in the world of fashion, for example, the opposite occurs between male and female models.”
Badosa acknowledges the disparity in earnings but sees it as a reflection of the current state of tennis popularity and viewership. She hopes for women’s tennis to gain equal footing with men’s in the future.
While some female tennis players admit to favoring men’s tennis over the women’s game, Badosa recognizes the need for greater promotion and viewership of women’s matches to address the pay gap issue.
In comparison to other sports and industries, Badosa believes that tennis offers a more equal platform for female athletes in terms of pay. She points out that top female tennis players are among the richest athletes globally, showcasing the sport’s relatively fair compensation.
“In my sport, in fact, it is much more equal than in others, and it doesn’t bother me that if the best tennis players generate more, they earn it in proportion.”
“What I can tell you is that between us, although we don’t all think the same in this sense, there is a real resonance that makes me very proud.”
