Rivard: Andy Murray on equality in tennis

Photo :@MagicMurrayFans

Three-time Grand Slam and Olympic champion Andy Murray is also a champion for equality in tennis.

Ahead of the Citi Open this week, the outspoken feminist advocated for equal pay, a WTA–ATP merger and more women coaches.

First, the topic of prize money.

“I’m totally behind equal prize money, and I think that it is brilliant that a lot of the tournaments on the tour have that, and I think that’s really, really positive,” he said. He even took things one step further, upholding a view shared by Roger Federer that the WTA and ATP should consider uniting.

I agree with you, It’s too confusing for the fans when there are different ranking systems, different logos, different websites, different tournament categories. https://t.co/zX4XTr9Rr0
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 22, 2020

“I always felt like when we’re competing at the same event on the same courts, we should be playing for the same prize money. But I think for it ever to become like truly equal, the WTA and the ATP are actually going to have to come together and work as one before that’s the case, because I don’t think it’s that straightforward just now that both tours have different sponsors, different TV deals, and all of that stuff, too,” added the Scotsman.

Tennis legends like Billie Jean King, Chris Evert and John McEnroe, who notably said a merger seemed inevitable and would help grow the sport, have also backed the idea.

The crusade to make more space for women in tennis doesn’t stop there. Sir Andy also expressed his surprise that there are so few women coaches.

His very first coach was his mom Judy, who did double duty with his brother Jamie.

Back in 2014, Andy stunned the tennis world when he hired two-time Grand Slam champion Amélie Mauresmo as his coach. He wasn’t the first player to be coached by a woman, but he was certainly the most successful and most talked about.

“I think it is really important,” he said. “The lack of female coaches is something that I’ve found surprising across both tours, but particularly on the women’s tour. I think it’s about time that the WTA has an initiative to try and help with this. Hopefully, those numbers increase because it’s a very small amount.”

At Wimbledon just a few weeks ago, only 6 of the 128 players in the women’s main draw were coached by women. That’s 5%. In the WTA Top 200, there were 13 women coaches. That’s 6.5%.

In mid-July, the great BJK articulated her astonishment and dismay at the numbers and called for more women coaches at the professional level, echoing what Judy Murray herself once said: “It’s about society. You have to see it to be it.”

Is Novak next?

It was Roger in 2022, and it’ll be Rafa in 2024.

Is Novak next? Soon?

Well, that’s what his parents said they hoped in a new documentary, Novak Djokovic – Untold Stories, produced by the Bulgarian media group Sportal.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion hasn’t actually said anything about retiring, but his mom and dad made it clear that they’re ready for him to hang up his racquet, sooner rather than later.

“It’s all up to him,” said Dijana Djokovic. “As far as I’m concerned, he can retire right now – he has won everything.”

His dad Srdjan agrees: “It’s not the end, but in a year and a half let’s say. My wish as a father, I think for some time that he should have stopped working this extremely difficult job. It’s physically and mentally challenging and very demanding. With him being fully dedicated for 30 years and not taking his foot off the gas, there is not much time for other things in life.”

Do they know something the rest of us don’t? Or is it just wishful thinking on their part as parents who want their son to be happy?

Nole has indeed won it all. Dijana Djokovic is absolutely right about that.

By the numbers, he’s the GOAT. He’s won the most Grand Slam titles (23, including 10 at the Australian Open and 7 at Wimbledon), the most Masters singles titles (38) and the most ATP Finals titles (6, tied with Federer).

If he can keep the momentum going, he could tie Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam championships.

But what did the man himself recently have to say about retirement? “I would like to play as long as I possibly can. I don’t have really any number in my head. Things are progressing so far pretty well for me. I can’t complain.”

When he was asked about his grueling work schedule during Wimbledon, he called it a lifestyle rather than an obstacle, 365-day-a-year dedication. “It’s not really something that I feel like it’s a burden. It’s just I choose to do that, and I like it,” he explained.

The chair umpire calls for the trainer

Medical timeouts are common in tennis.

But medical timeouts for the chair umpire? Not so much.

Be that as it may, that’s exactly what went down on July 30 during the final of the Hamburg European Open. With eventual champion and local star Alexander Zverev up 7-5, 4-1, Mohamed Lahyani, who was in obvious pain, called for the trainer. For himself.

Lahyani is probably the best-known chair umpire in professional tennis and a media, fan and player favourite, so his right foot injury left no one indifferent—not even Thanasi Kokkinakis.