Venus Williams sends reminder to women’s tennis | Sports News

Venus Williams could also be 45 years previous, however the seven-time Grand Slam champion is not achieved utilizing her platform to problem the system and struggle for equal rights in tennis.

Williams is making ready for her long-awaited return on the DC Open, and is even making an attempt to persuade her sister Serena to return to the game. Outside of wins and losses, the tennis icon clarified that her mission extends far past the baseline or a trophy that could possibly be added to her 49 profession singles titles and the $43 million she’s made on tour.

After sitting out since March 2024 with harm, Williams accepted a wild card invitation into the event’s essential draw and can face world No. 35 Peyton Stearns in her comeback match. She’ll additionally step onto the doubles court docket alongside American Hailey Baptiste, squaring off in opposition to Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue.

While talking to the media, Venus identified that tennis could have come a long method thanks to Billie Jean King’s struggle, however the struggle is not over when it comes to matching the boys’s facet of the game.

“I always felt a big responsibility towards promoting tennis and women’s sports,” Venus mentioned in a pre-tournament press convention. “I think that this generation can’t forget that. That woman, we still have lots to fight for. An example to set. It’s so important.”

Since turning professional in 1994 at 14 years previous, Venus has developed into an advocate for gender equity in tennis. Following within the footsteps of King and the trailblazers who challenged the system earlier than her, Venus performed a key position in pushing Grand Slam occasions to award equal prize money to ladies, as some males within the sport thought otherwise.

That motion led to the choice in 2007 to make Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, the French Open and the Australian Open all have equal pay. But outdoors of the Slams, the pay hole nonetheless exists in much less outstanding occasions.

In 2014 alone, the highest 10 males on tour out-earned the highest 10 ladies by over $80 million when non-major occasions had been factored in. During final 12 months’s Cincinnati Open, the place each Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka gained their respective singles titles, Sinner pocketed simply over $1 million for his victory.

DON’T MISS

Sabalenka was ranked No. 1 globally, incomes barely half that ($523,485). Venus is effectively conscious of these numbers and needs immediately’s stars resembling Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Mirra Andreeva, and Qinwen Zheng to be simply as conscious.

“Of course, I am in love with tennis,” she mentioned. “So, to have the opportunity to have this platform to promote the game even now is a great opportunity.”

Gauff gained her first Grand Slam title on the 2023 U.S. Open and has already proven flashes of stepping up to spotlight points within the game. Swiatek has additionally been vocal in regards to the WTA’s need for growth to obtain the financial success that its gamers need, and Jessica Pegula has additionally led the dialogue for equal pay on the entrance traces.