MY ACCOUNT
Billie Jean King says it is time for female tennis players to stop being treated like “second-class citizens” and backed Amelie Mauresmo to redress the balance at the French Open.
Mauresmo apologised after this week stating that there had only been one women’s match at Roland Garros played in the night session as the men’s game is more appealing.
Iga Swiatek, who won her second grand slam title in Paris on Saturday, described the French Open tournament director’s comments as “disappointing and surprising”.
The legendary King has called for female players to be in the spotlight more and expects that to be the case on Court Philippe-Chatrier next year, when Mauresmo will oversee the clay-court major for a second time after a difficult start to her tenure.
“You’ve got to put them when it’s prime time, and you have got to figure it out and you want to give equal opportunity to both genders,” King said during a press conference at Roland Garros.
“Always. You always want to make sure you do the right thing by each person. They should have the same amount of women’s matches as they do men’s. Real easy.
“Right now we are playing two out of three sets, we will get out of there faster.
“I think the men should change that. If we keep treating us like second-class citizens we will stay second-class citizens. You want to make everyone feel important
“We should have more matches, but I think Amelie will take care of that next year. Knowing her, she’s a winner.”
World number one Swiatek swept 18-year-old Coco Gauff aside to lift the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen for a second time on Saturday, winning 6-1 6-3 to extend her astonishing run of victories to 35.
