The debate about equal prize money for men and women is picking up again. This time Caroline Garcia has taken the floor.
Caroline Garcia took a remarkable run at the end of last season: The Frenchman not only clinched the biggest success of her career with the title in Beijing, but Garcia also used the momentum to qualify for the WTA finals in Singapore for the first time. In addition to the sporting honour, Garcia has also put these successes on the safe side financially: more than seven million US dollars are on their credit side as prize money.
In a conversation with Zetung L? Èquipe, Garcia said she was satisfied with her own situation, saying that there is still a lot to be done globally:”In the Grand Slam tournaments, men and women deserve the same prize money. But when we compare the rewards in international tournaments, the difference is still clear,”Garcia explained. Although the ladies played as many sets as the men, they would get less money for it.
“This is neither normal nor abnormal,”said the five-time WTA Tournament Winner,”but it’s improved. We’re not complaining. We’re happy to be changing things and pioneers in tennis, even if we still have a long way to go.”
I don’t wake up every day and think to myself: If I win this tournament, I make a million dollars. It doesn’t motivate me. In our sport, there is no guarantee that you will receive a cheque at the end of a week” Sometimes it is even the case that you spend more money in a tournament than you earn. And of course, if you have to pause for half a year due to injury, all your income will be lost.