“Three times the effort”: Nikolay Davydenko calls Grand Slam equal pay unjust
WTAFriday, 13 December 2024 at 22:35
Nikolay
Davydenko took aim against equal prize money at Grand Slams, taking Serena
Williams as an example. Former world No. 3 questioned the fairness of equal
prize money in Grand Slam tournaments, pointing out that women play
best-of-three-set matches, while men compete in best-of-five.
According
to the Russian ex-tennis star, it makes sense to have equal prize money in
lower-tier tournaments, such as Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 events, since
everyone plays best-of-three there. "At 250, 500, 1000 series tournaments
— maybe," Denis Bushkovsky said. "But when they shout about Grand
Slams… You don’t play five-set matches."
The 2009
ATP Finals champion highlighted the dominance of players like Serena Williams
and her sister Venus, who managed to win Grand Slam titles with much less time
on court, often steamrolling their opponents. "Serena Williams won Grand
Slams, losing only 10 games per tournament," he continued.
"She
won 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 without even breaking a sweat or feeling stressed. Meanwhile,
men lose 10 games in the first match alone and need to fight. Sometimes you
play a five-setter in the first round and then have to keep going."
Davydenko
insisted that male players put in significantly more effort during Grand Slam
tournaments, arguing that they deserve higher rewards compared to women in such
events. "Men’s tennis players do three times more work than women,
especially at Grand Slams. So paying out equal prize money is unfair," the
Russian said.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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