Showbiz
Wimbledon will remain the only Grand Slam competition not to offer equal pay to both male and female players.
Despite a claim last month by French organisers that this year's competition would be the first in the competition's history where male and female winners would be rewarded equally, a £30 000 difference in winnings still remains.
Last year's female champion Venus Williams revealed her disappointment. "We want to be treated equally as the men," she said. "This is not just about women's tennis, but women all over the world."
But the decision was defended by All England Club chairman Tim Phillips, who noted that the physical demands of the men's five-set matches often mean that they cannot be involved in doubles competitions - and hence often earn less.
He added, "We also would point that the top ten ladies last year earned more from Wimbledon than the top ten men did. We don't see it as an equal rights issue."
Despite a claim last month by French organisers that this year's competition would be the first in the competition's history where male and female winners would be rewarded equally, a £30 000 difference in winnings still remains.
Last year's female champion Venus Williams revealed her disappointment. "We want to be treated equally as the men," she said. "This is not just about women's tennis, but women all over the world."
But the decision was defended by All England Club chairman Tim Phillips, who noted that the physical demands of the men's five-set matches often mean that they cannot be involved in doubles competitions - and hence often earn less.
He added, "We also would point that the top ten ladies last year earned more from Wimbledon than the top ten men did. We don't see it as an equal rights issue."
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