Inequality at Wimbledon

I don't see it as discrimination - there are practical issues: size of audience seating relative to the likely size of audience, effect of wheels on the grass courts (already suffering) etc.

I worked with people with disabilities all my life and there were a handful who sought out discrimination like terriers; everyone else recognised practical issues and were slow to take offence. I do not mean they caved in where they should have fought their corner, but simply that they let common sense rule.

I wasn't thinking of people with disabilities especially. Just that the men's singles gets such a lot of publicity and the doubles matches not so much.

It has always been so, the two matches which draw the crowds are the men and women's singles finals . Murry and Hinges matches have been televised

I guess the organisers have to maximise ticket sales in order to keep the prize money high, so the centre and court one have to be the matches that will bring in the biggest crowds. The prize money is unbelievable: £2.2 million for the winners. And you get £35,000 for losing in the first round - much much more than we live on each year. I am prepared to limp about on court for £35K!

Do the men still get paid more than the women?

No - which I think is unfair as the men play more sets [blush{

Blast

Yes I confess I find it hard to understand why the ladies win the same money but are asked to do less. I wait for the feminist brickbats!

Well you can't get more feminist than me but I bekieve in equal pay for equal work

It was interesting to hear Martina Navratilova (if I remember correctly) saying this week that the ladies games should go to five sets after a certain round. As she said, they are so much fitter these days and can play as long as the chaps.
Andy Murray said he understood how difficult it is to choose who plays on the two main courts, said he would be happy to play on others if it gave a chance to someone else. Would be good for people who couldn't get/afford centre court tickets to get a chance to watch the big names too.
I have enjoyed watching the mixed doubles, the Heather Watson & Henri Kontinon games have been great fun. Hope they retain their title this afternoon.

I do think they are asking them to play far too much now though, ranking/points etc having to be won at every opportunity. Think it's causing too many injuries and not enough time to heal. Think how the football players moan having to play for 3 hours a week!

I don't think I could take the tedium of five sets of women's pat-a-cake
Apart from the Sherman tank that is Serena Williams,(as was Martina in her day) IMHO the women do not play to the standard of the men and the play is far less exciting.

I always thought that until this year - but there has been some good play from the ladies this time.

Why not 3 sets for both?

It is a concern that so many of the men players had to drop out with injuries - something like 9 or 10 of them. I presume it is hard for them to miss tournaments as it influences their ranking and then the tournaments they can be admitted to. But with such huge prize money I would be tempted to call it a day fairly speedily, having earned enough for the rest of your life.

Top seeds play on the outer courts , men play three sets only , sounds perfect - not

as with most athletes (not footballers) its not ABOUT money ,actually for most people in any walk of life if they do a job they love they aren't doing it for the cash.Loads of actors for instance do TV or fils to make a decent living but love going back to theatre and its not massive wages there

Actually I can't stand sport, any sport, at all - not quite sure how I ended up on this thread. . Oh yes, I answered Ana's question. Oh well, I'll go now

I think one set of tennis is ample and football matches should end at half time or when someone does something to merit any sort of penalty.......cricket is for the radio but only when listening outside and accompanied by a picnic.......don't get me started on the Olympics.........boring!!!!

Now motorbike racing is heavenly but I have to be there for the smell of the fuel.....and the riders.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Lol radicalnan, the bikes are watched here too. Although they are getting a bit predictable at the moment, WSB especially. Love the BSB.

I think the top tennis ladies could make a longer match entertaining, that's probably why bringing five sets in from quarter finals onward would be good.
They do need to stop all the screeching that goes on, and also stop the "net" calls on serve. And also sort this time before serve thing, put a clock out there to make it clear and stop the umpire interruption during serves.

I agree about the noise jus, watched Sharapova play at Wimbledon and the noise was horrendous, it must have been incredibly distracting for her opponent (not to mention annoying for the audience!), I really don't know why it's allowed.

why in the oscars and baftas etc is the male actor top of the bill?

Why are married couples addressed as Mr & Mrs . Just always been so

Thre again, it's always 'Ladies and Gentlemen'...

There was a piece of Womans Hour this week about whether we still need titles - eg Mr, Mrs and Miss - particularly when signing up for things on the internet. Following this I did think it was unnecessary at Wimbledon for the umpire to be calling women players either Mrs or Miss - obviously it is not important to know whether women are married or single. I think it is time all players were just known by their surname