(Paris) Tennis legend Billie Jean King thinks that Roland-Garros should present more women’s matches in the evening, for the sake of fairness and because it is the best way to put the players in the spotlight.
Posted at 5:24 p.m.
In a press conference at Roland-Garros on Saturday, King added that according to her, the director of the tournament Amélie Mauresmo will correct the situation in 2023. This year, only one evening session out of 10 has put the ladies in the spotlight.
Mauresmo said Wednesday that men’s tennis is more attractive right now, citing the difficulty of scheduling a highly anticipated women’s match.
“What’s for sure is that it’s going to stay like this if we don’t have more (women’s) games,” King said.
You have to put them on during prime time. You always want to keep in mind to give equal opportunities to both genders.
Billie Jean King
The 78-year-old American was elected to the Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987 for a career where she reached No. 1 in the world and won 39 Grand Slam titles, including 12 in singles.
She was inducted again last year along with the other members of the ‘Original 9’, which laid the foundations of the WTA in the 1970s.
“If they keep treating us like second-class people, we’re going to stay that way,” King said. You want everyone to feel important. I think Amélie will see to it next year (to have more women’s games in the evening). »
On Friday, King received the Legion of Honor at the Élysée Palace, invited by French President Emmanuel Macron.
King’s contributions to women’s sports, gender equality and LGBTQ rights have been highlighted.
On Thursday, King was honored by the French Tennis Federation for her playing career and activism.
This is the 50e anniversary of his triumph on clay in Paris, in 1972.