2013 Wimbledon champion, Marion Bartoli expressed her opinion about prize money division speaking on Match Point talk show.
Former world number 7 earned over $11 million during her career on the WTA circuit. She also reached no. 15 in the doubles ranking having won 3 WTA titles in doubles and reaching semifinals at the 2003 US Open. During the recent interview, Bartoli said that she thinks doubles players should receive less money. The money should rather go to players who play in qualifications.
“I know I’m not going to make myself friends but I think we have to say it: I don’t understand all these doubles competitions all year round. I understand during Grand Slams and the Olympics because doubles is part of tennis history (but) I’ve been to some tournaments now with my player and I see now, these (doubles) players, they have crews, like six people around them. When I was a player, as a singles player, we couldn’t afford to pay six people to travel with us full-time. They can afford to pay six people and they just play doubles!" said Bartoli.
“Why don’t you get some of that money to qualifiers, to someone who plays only Challengers? I just don’t understand because in doubles, you just don’t make the same effort as a singles player. You don’t practice as much….they keep going, week in and week out, getting that money. I don’t know if we have to stop doubles completely, but to get less money and give that money to qualification and others, that should be a solution," Bartoli said.