Moore to retire following questionable choice of words
Calling into question the integrity of women’s professional tennis, Indian Wells tournament director Raymond Moore resigned following a deeply controversial comment which offended individuals on and off the court.
Sharing his opinion with members of the media, former tennis professional Moore credited the success of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) to the male players, whom he feels have dominated the sport.
“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 don’t make any decisions and they are lucky. They are very, very lucky,” Moore said. “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.”
When asked to elaborate, Moore noted that the women of the game have become more “competitively attractive and physically attractive.”
He later apologized for his comments and resigned. While many fans, players, and organizers were appalled by his demeaning message, some have stood quietly in his corner.
Those sharing his sentiment—that the men deserve more prize money and recognition—cite the ability of the men’s program to readily draw crowds and play a more exciting game as incentive for higher payouts. In addition to what they feel is a deeper talent pool, the men also play best of five sets, which many feel contributes to better quality matches than the best of three sets played by women.
Still, the comment has managed to offend men and women alike, with many unsettled by the stark inaccuracy of his statements.
Analysts note that top ranking tennis stars generate more interest in matches than lesser known players, regardless of gender. In 2015, tickets for the women’s finals of the U.S. Open in New York featuring star player Serena Williams sold out before the men’s event. In 2014, the women’s finals drew in 4.5 million viewers, double the audience for the men’s match.
The popularity of women in tennis is unmatched in other sports where female athletes continue to earn significantly less money and attention than their male counterparts.
Although, the shared spotlight of tennis seems to have risen from a rich tenacity rather than a common courtesy of the sport.
In one of the most notable matches in the history of the sport, Billie Jean King ignited the fight for women in tennis when she defeated her outwardly confident opponent, Billy Riggs in the 1973 Battle of the Sexes. Alongside the win, King pushed for the development of a women’s tour. When neither the men’s Association of Tennis Professionals nor the U.S. Tennis Association supported her, King and eight fellow female players each signed a $1 contract to play a series of tournaments. In their quest for success, they gained sponsorship and a television contract, and the Women’s Tennis Association was born.
In the 40 years since King’s victory, the fight for equal status has seen many successes, with all four of the grand slam tournaments paying equal prize money for men and women as of 2007. While the top ranked players have developed into household names, mid-tier female players also find the support to develop as professional athletes. Ranked 48th during her career, British player Anne Keothavong earned $1.3 million in prize money over 12 years of playing before retiring, suggesting that the depth of the sport extends beyond the celebrity players at center court.
When reflecting on her experiences in the sport, King reconciled differences and hoped for a future where athletes would work together to move both the sport and one another forward.
“That’s the way I want the world to look: men and women working together, championing each other, helping each other, promoting each other—we’re all in this world together.”
Despite the controversy surrounding women’s pay and play, the unwavering optimism of many past and present athletes stands as a beacon for fair and competitive sport. And for that, the athletes of tomorrow can feel grateful.