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Just when progress was being in gender equality in sports, someone has to set that progress back 50 years. Indian Wells’ tournament director Raymond Moore’s comments about female tennis players having to thank male tennis players for keeping the sport relevant. To be exact, he told female players they should be “down on their knees” in gratitude to their male counterparts.
He continued by telling reporters before the singles finals, “In my next life when I come back I want to be someone in the WTA, because they ride on the coattails of the men. They are very, very lucky. If I was a lady player, I’d go down every night on my knees and thank God that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born, because they have carried this sport. They really have.”
Really? Do the names Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, and Victoria Azarenka not carry enough clout anymore? Williams, who is one of the biggest athletes, male or female, of all time did not take too kindly to the comments. She told reporters, “I don’t think any woman should be down on their knees thanking anybody like that. I think Venus, myself, a number of players — if I could tell you every day how many people say they don’t watch tennis unless they’re watching myself or my sister — I couldn’t even bring up that number.” Williams, a 21-time Grand Slam winner, clearly has a point. Her matches are must-see television, especially when she is going for the “Serena Slam”, winning all FOUR majors in a row. Williams continued by saying that both men and women tennis is exciting and that fans enjoy both.
The Women’s Tennis Association immediately tried to separate itself from Moore’s ignorant comments. WTA CEO Steve Simon issues a statement on Twitter.
#WTA CEO Steve Simon's statement in response to Raymond Moore's comments. pic.twitter.com/MXKmq7SO6A
— wta (@WTA) March 21, 2016
Moore tried to retract his comments, but the damage was done. Williams was not the only one to respond to Moore’s comments. Former tennis legend and equal rights activist Billie Jean King took to her Twitter account to respond.
Disappointed in #RaymondMoore comments. He is wrong on so many levels. Every player, especially the top players, contribute to our success
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) March 20, 2016
While everyone came out to denounce Moore’s comments, unfortunately he is not the only one who thinks that. Many people still believe women sports are less than their male counterparts no matter how accomplished the athletes are. Serena Williams is one of the most accomplished athletes ever and she is still fighting to be treated equally. As long as she continues the fight alongside other female athletes, the amount of people with this train of thinking will continue to diminish.
