Paula Badosa has come out about not being bothered by the pay gap between men and women in professional tennis, explaining why she thinks it's fair.
The pay gap question has been one of the most controversial topics in tennis wherever it is raised, which is why most tennis players, or coaches involved in the sport, shy away from discussing it.
On surface value, the conversation seems to be simple: Both men and women should make the same amount of money for doing the same job. That part is logical and clear for most people.
Most probably support that in principle, but the reality, at the moment, is quite different. Men and women have never earned the same in tennis, even though in recent decades, the gap has become smaller and smaller.
The prize money awarded is the same at all of the Grand Slams, and slowly but surely, almost all of the ATP and WTA 1000 events. Many tennis players have vocally called out the pay gap as something that needs to be tackled as soon as possible because it's unfair.
There was also a period when many players demanded that it be addressed, but it doesn't bother Badosa all that much. She recently admitted in an interview with La Vanguardia that, in her opinion, it always depends on how much the sport generates.
According to the Spaniard, men's tennis is far more popular than women's tennis worldwide, generating much more money as a result. So, in the 26-year-old's opinion, for generating more money, male tennis players should also be awarded more.
"I have always been very clear that we are what we generate, regardless of gender. Are there differences? Maybe there are, but because men's tennis generates more than women's, just as in the world of fashion, for example, the opposite occurs between male and female models."
Due to that view, Badosa isn't bothered that some men's players earn more than her because, to her, it comes in proportion. It's the reality until women's tennis becomes as popular or possibly overtakes men's tennis.
After all, quite a few WTA tennis players openly admit that they don't watch women's tennis but men's tennis instead, which certainly doesn't help the debate and further promotion of their product, which everyone would want to become more viewed.
After all, as Badosa pointed out, this sport is way more equal than some other sports. It's certainly more equal than the job market, where the pay gap is an even more pressing issue, and in every year's rankings of the richest female athletes, tennis players usually occupy at least eight of the Top 10 spots, showing that female tennis players are paid really well compared to some of their fellow athletes.
"In my sport, in fact, it is much more equal than in others, and it doesn't bother me that if the best tennis players generate more, they earn it in proportion."
"What I can tell you is that between us, although we don't all think the same in this sense, there is a real resonance that makes me very proud."
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