| Equality is one of those mythic ideas that we talk so | | | | Association and the Men's Tennis Association to play |
| much about but never really achieve. The Constitution | | | | at the same tournaments, both in their singles |
| of the United States may assert that all men are | | | | competitions, doubles competitions and the |
| created equal however women, particularly in the | | | | groundbreaking mixed doubles where women and |
| arena of sports, are left out in the cold. Gender | | | | men play together to form a competitive set. By |
| inequality has plagued professional sports since its | | | | contrast, professional golf struggles to even let one |
| inception; some sports such as baseball, hockey and | | | | female into their Masters competition and the WPGA |
| auto racing do not even to attempt to include women | | | | is kept as a separate and noncompetitive entity. The |
| at any level in their professional game play. | | | | WNBA also exists as its own entity with no interplay |
| Other sports such as golf and basketball create | | | | with men's basketball. By putting the genders together |
| leagues for women that exist with a different set of | | | | at grand slams tournaments, tennis invests in diversity |
| rules, sponsors and economic prosperity than the men. | | | | and equality. They prove women's tennis and men's |
| However tennis has been an open and leading sport in | | | | tennis can play at the same professional level and can |
| terms of gender recognition and gender equality. | | | | enjoy space at the same venue. |
| Equal pay for equal play | | | | See one see all |
| In 2007 Wimbledon joined the other three grand slams | | | | Perhaps more than any other sport, the women of |
| in paying out the same prize money for women as it | | | | tennis enjoy a higher level of sponsorship, deals and |
| did men, recognizing that inequality of pay between | | | | media coverage. While the WNBA has made |
| women's professional tennis and men's is a bad idea | | | | significant progress with their players receiving |
| from a bygone age. The French Open had done so in | | | | endorsements and sponsorship deals, no other sport |
| 2006 and the American and Australian Open had paid | | | | has lifted up women as much as professional tennis. |
| the same for years. There are critics who claim that | | | | Whether it's selling tennis shoes, creating clinics for |
| because women's tennis is best out of three games, | | | | students or being interviewed or asked to |
| and men's was best out of five that unequal pay was | | | | commentate, women tennis players both on and off |
| justified. Still professional tennis took a stand for gender | | | | the court are treated with a measure of respect and |
| equality and has not backed down. Paying equally | | | | allowed to be multimillion dollar participators in their |
| allows all people who love the sport to cheer and feel | | | | sport, just like men. |
| pride in their players. Tennis proves equality is good for | | | | It doesn't take a genius to see that women and men |
| everyone. | | | | are different and play games differently. However |
| Playing well together | | | | professional tennis has been a stunning leader in the |
| One of the hallmarks of gender equality and tennis has | | | | understanding that while they may be different it does |
| always been the ability for the Women's Tennis | | | | not mean one is less. |