Novak Djokovic earns double Coco Gauff “is outrageous”
- Novak Djokovic earned more than $1 million for the win in the Cincinnati Open
- On the same day, Coco Gauff defeated Karolina Muchova to win a first ever WTA 1000 title
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Tennis supporters are divided after it emerged that Novak Djokovic earned more than double the prize money of Coco Gauff after they both won in Cincinnati last week.
Djokovic came through world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling final on Sunday to claim the Western & Southern Open trophy.
Earlier on Sunday, Gauff defeated Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-4 to win her first WTA 1000 title and second hard court tournament of the summer.
The 19-year-old’s reward for becoming the youngest champion in the event’s history was $454,500. Djokovic, on the other hand, receives $1,019,335 for winning the ATP 1000 crown.
That is despite both playing at the same venue and both playing three set matches.
Novak Djokovic earned more than $1 million for victory in the Cincinnati Open on Sunday
Previously, American Coco Gauff defeated Karolina Muchova to win a first-time WTA 1000 title
When this “outrageous” inequality was spotted on social media, several fans suggested it was bad for the game and was a testament to how gender inequality in sport persisted.
“B***s****,” someone wrote. ‘This has to stop. It’s what they call ‘bad for tennis’.’
“This is grand theft!” another argued. It’s over 1/2 MILLION ($564,835) LESS for Coco Gauff. It’s bad enough to make (you) sick.”
A supporter added: “Disgraceful. Shows how far equality for women’s sport still has to travel.’
But many other fans responded to the suggestion that male and female players should automatically earn the same amount.
Instead, they argued, the prize money is determined by commercial considerations, such as viewership.
“The men’s draw sold WAY more tickets than the women’s draw,” one fan argued. ‘The market pays a lot more money and wants to watch men’s tennis more than women’s tennis. It’s basically basic economics: if you generate more, you should be paid more (sic) (as in any other job).’
Djokovic rips his shirt to celebrate after his three-set epic against rival Carlos Alcaraz
Gauff’s reward for becoming the youngest champion in the event’s history was $454,500
Another supporter claimed, “It’s all about total viewership and ad revenue. You know this and you could do something constructive and promote the WTA, but you’d rather make a scene out of it.”
Some supporters argued that the difference simply proved, as one female fan wrote, that “the men’s game is a BETTER product.”
However, another fan suggested that arguments about income and eyeballs are a diversion designed to justify a gender pay gap.
“People always want to use viewership, popularity and ticket sales as if Coco doesn’t unwrap the booths religiously,” they wrote. “The prize money is already predetermined and is based on who has a penis and who doesn’t.”