I see some poor male tennis player has put his head above the parapet to claim that women shouldn't be paid as much as men not because they don;t play as hard or long but because it's not as interesting.

This of course has set the women against him and set off the whole PC debate going again, bt is he right or isn;t he right.

Personally I'm all for equality of pay. I think it shouold be linked to such things as

Broad proportion of time spent playing a match
Opportunity to augment by taking part in other events such as doubles
Resaerched popularity of the matches played by the different draws - singles, mens' doubles, ladies, ladies' doubles, mixed doubles etc

and some scale of equality developed from there.

I wonder how that would pan out?

Coleyfish

I see some poor male tennis player has put his head above the parapet to claim that women shouldn't be paid as much as men not because they don;t play as hard or long but because it's not as interesting.


He started off using the 'they don't play as many games' approach and then changed tact when that didn't work.

He is of course completely correct and it's only because we live in such politically correct times that anyone could think otherwise.

Why should men play best of 5 sets for the same amount of money as Women who only play best of 3?

It would be laughed out of (crown) court if we were talking about a business applying these standards rather than a sport.

HYD

It would be laughed out of (crown) court if we were talking about a business applying these standards rather than a sport.

To be fair, it would be laughed out of court in most other sports too. I'm not sure why tennis is considered an exception.

He is of course completely correct and it's only because we live in such politically correct times that anyone could think otherwise.

Why should men play best of 5 sets for the same amount of money as Women who only play best of 3?

Note to self - must stop being so clever in constructing and presenting my opinion.

Coleyfish

~Have you heard Maria Sharapova grunt?

Imagine having to listen to 5 sets of grunting men?

Nah once the girls grow up & stop this ear busting noise on every point won or lost they cannot expect the kudos the men receive.

Personally I'm all for equality of pay. I think it shouold be linked to such things as

Broad proportion of time spent playing a match
Opportunity to augment by taking part in other events such as doubles
Resaerched popularity of the matches played by the different draws - singles, mens' doubles, ladies, ladies' doubles, mixed doubles etc

and some scale of equality developed from there.

Obviously there are factors such as those you mention which would preclude women being paid on a direct match for match basis as the men, and whether it would be possible to devise a different basis for payment is debatable, but if it were possible I would generally support more equality.

But there is one thing that is paramount for me .

Any lady who squeals, grunts or moans on every stroke should be penalised - £10 per sgueal, grunt or groan would be a good starting point.

There are one or two male grunters, but I have to admit that on the whole this very distracting element of the game is far more prevalent among the fair sex.

NK

I don't see that it has anything to do with 3 sets or 5 sets. Surely the reason for having equal pay should be based on how much money does men's tennis bring in compared to women's tennis. I am quite prepared to believe that women's tennis brings in at least as much money in advertising, sponsorship etc.. as men's tennis but I have no idea if it is true and no way of finding out.

If it were otherwise women's football/cricket etc... would be paid the same as the men's version.

I am quite prepared to believe that women's tennis brings in at least as much money in advertising, sponsorship etc.. as men's tennis but I have no idea if it is true and no way of finding out.


It's absolutely no-where near.

I will get the figures and return.


HYD

Any lady who squeals, grunts or moans on every stroke should be penalised

I completely agree.


Snorvey.

Any lady who squeals, grunts or moans on every stroke should be penalised

I completely agree.


Snorvey.

Are we straying into "Fifty Shades" territory here?

John

Why not equalise it at one set for both sexes? That should reduce Wimbledon fortnight to a couple of days & avoid clogging up the beeb with wall to wall coverage of the bleedin' game....

And while we're at it just have penalty shoot-outs at football. Would save 90 minutes of dreary kicking it about poinlessly and would get the whole shootin' match over in an afternoon, leaving TV free for what Lord Reith intended.

Why should men play best of 5 sets for the same amount of money as Women who only play best of 3?

That sounds reasonable.

But, to make it properly fair, maybe a fee per set should be agreed, same for men as for women?

Men still play best of 5, women still play best of 3 (why anyway?? It's the same game).

Of course, playing best of 5 some men will only play 3 and their pay will be accordingly reduced. That's only fair.

Women, playing best of 3, may play 2, they may play 3, if they play 3 they get paid the same as the men who played 3.

It will, of course, lead the men to try to play draws (or whatever they call it in tennis) for the first 4 and leave it all to the one last set, in order to get paid more (the same as they get now whether they complete the 5 sets or not) - but that will only mean they get their wish and are correct that their game is more exciting.

Come to think of it, doesn't it all then just come down to one set?

Why not have both sexes play one set only and pay them just for one set! 1/5th of the men's rate should do it.

There - equality! :)

Mel

Any lady who squeals, grunts or moans on every stroke should be penalised - £10 per sgueal, grunt or groan would be a good starting point.

It has been proposed already that umpires should be equipped with gruntometers, and any player (inevitably a female) who exceeds a certain number of decibels should be penalised.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/wimbledon/9361097/Wi...

The loudest known grunt came from Sharapova, who in 2009 was recorded at 105 decibels – equivalent to standing 3ft from a chainsaw.

Trouble is they can't decide how!

Those who break the limit could be forced to replay a point or have points docked, although the penalties for breaking the rules have not yet been established.

I foresee another problem:

Umpires will then be equipped with a hand–held device designed specifically to measure the grunting levels on court.

How can an umpire be expected to keep one eye on the gruntometer whilst watching play? Or will they no longer overrule bad calls and leave it all to "Hawkeye"?


Alan

Any lady who squeals, grunts or moans on every stroke should be penalised - £10 per sgueal, grunt or groan would be a good starting point.

Maybe penalise the groans, but give a small incentive for moans & a decent bonus for squeals? ;-#)))

How can an umpire be expected to keep one eye on the gruntometer whilst watching play? Or will they no longer overrule bad calls and leave it all to "Hawkeye"?

Why only the loudest grunt ? Even a whimper such as I can hear now coming from Stepanek is distracting. Admittedly he doesn't do it all the time but they should all be treated the same.

It doesn't need a gruntometer, all it needs is someone with a press button counter to monitor each player.

Then fine them all at the same level - male or female.

NK

Any lady who squeals, grunts or moans on every stroke should be penalised - £10 per sgueal, grunt or groan would be a good starting point.

And suddenly my love life becomes less of a financial drain...

And suddenly my love life becomes less of a financial drain...

If it involves money it ain't love.......

NK

And suddenly my love life becomes less of a financial drain...

If it involves money it ain't love.......


But is generally more exciting and less hurtful . . . . .


HYD

But is generally more exciting and less hurtful . . . . .

Speak for yourself ......

NK

If it involves money it ain't love.......


I didn't say that SHE loved it...

But is generally more exciting and less hurtful . . . . .

Speak for yourself ......


I am . . . .

HYD

I didn't say that SHE loved it...<?i>

MCP's of the world -- UNITE !!!

MCP's of the world -- UNITE !!!

You post that like its a bad thing...

Anyway, to get back to the initial subject, the grunts, sighs, etc suggest that the happiness isn't all one way...

You post that like its a bad thing...

Which it is ...

NK

How about a heads up from the tennis watchers about tomorrow? Any good moaners & squealers amongst the ladies playing on saturday?