"I know all the women appreciated that a lot": Pegula heaps praise on Shapovalov for raising gender equality issue surrounding pay

Jessica Pegula has praised Denis Shapovalov after the Canadian addressed the gender pay gap in professional tennis.

Shapovalov previously assumed women's players earned roughly the same as men but realized that was not the case after a conversation with his girlfriend, Mirjan Bjorklund, who plays on the WTA tour.

“I used to be naive about tennis,” Shapovalov told the Players' Tribune.

“When I started out, I kind of assumed that male and female pros were treated the same way. It just made sense, you know? I mean, why would it be any different?

“Then I met my girlfriend, Mirjam Bjorklund, and she really opened my eyes."

The world No. 30 continued: "Things are definitely going in the right direction. But overall, the gap is still huge.

"Maybe I’m being cynical, but I think some people might think of gender equality as mere political correctness. Deep down they don’t feel that women deserve as much, you know? And that’s terrible."

World No. 3 Pegula has applauded Shapovalov for speaking about the issue.

“I thought it was really amazing how [Shapovalov] took his chance to talk and that’s the subject he chose,” the American said.

“It’s something that the men, I think for the most part, have supported. But it’s always if they get asked, they support it.

“For him to go so out of his way to make that the main story he was talking to the press about was really cool, and really nice. I know all the women appreciated that a lot.”

Both winners at Indian Wells this month will receive the same prize money. Pegula believes joint events help advance the women's game.

“We’re better when we’re together, for sure,” Pegula added. "The joint events, they’re bigger, they’re better. Everyone gets treated better, gets treated equally and that’s ideally what we want to happen all the time in the future.

"I think it’s getting there. Obviously, we still have a long ways to go. But it was nice to see him take the time to highlight that."