BBC 6 o Clock news fails to mention that..

(39 Posts)
BullieMama Mon 24-Jun-13 18:43:38

women play at Wimbledon as well as the men! Lashings of praise for Murray, Federer et al but no mention of Sharapova win or any other women's result for that matter.

TheDoctrineOfAllan Sat 29-Jun-13 19:24:04

Back to the topic - bear in mind that apart from the grand slams and maybe a couple of other tournaments, the men play three sets too.

Are all tournaments "equal pay" or just the slams?

Meglet Sat 29-Jun-13 19:31:54

What they need to do is alternate the Sunday singles final, one year have the women and the next year have the men closing the tournament. Same prizes and 5 sets.

I'm interested in the potential Murray v Williams match they've mentioned.

TheDoctrineOfAllan Sat 29-Jun-13 19:33:38

That's a good idea meglet.

zippey Sat 29-Jun-13 19:52:26

Difficult one, female tennis is in a bit of a doldrums with no one really standing out except perhaps Serena Williams. I do think that if the tables were turned and Laura Robson for example had a chance of winning Wimbledon, and Andy Murray was an average player then the news focus would be on the female.

However, that comment shouldnt disguise the fact that female sport in general is much maligned and looked down upon and Im not really too sure how to change that. I don't know if I'll get shot down for this but Id guess it is men who mostly watch and participate in sport, and the best records are usually held by men.

On a slightly different issue, but to do with sport and womens equality, I notice women are still not allowed into some prestigious golf clubs:

TabithaStephens Sat 29-Jun-13 19:58:21

You couldn't have women only playing the final over five sets when all the other games are three.

Andy Murray would destroy Serena Williams. She'd be lucky to win a game. The sisters played a set each against a man ranked 200 and something and lost 6-2 and 6-1. The only women to win one of the battle of the sexes games was Billie Jean King who beat 55 year old Bobby Riggs.

zippey Sun 30-Jun-13 00:17:49


Also, just wondering if the OP is really all that interested in Wimbledon, why would Federer get praise when he's out, and Sharapova was ousted in the 2nd round.

TheDoctrineOfAllan Sun 30-Jun-13 00:19:37

Zippey, check the date. OP posted on the first day of Wimbledon.

TheDoctrineOfAllan Sun 30-Jun-13 00:20:39

Tabitha, I think there are non-slam men's tournaments where that happens - isn't that how Olympics men's tennis works?

sashh Sun 30-Jun-13 02:29:47

Do you think we could get away with only paying 75% of the licence fee due to lack of women's sport?

TabithaStephens Sun 30-Jun-13 03:33:33

TheDoctrineofAllan, the men are used to playing 5 set games. Women are not. It would be very hard to have every game you play be 3 sets and then only the GS finals be 5 sets. It's not like players even know they will be in the final so can train for it.

TheDoctrineOfAllan Sun 30-Jun-13 08:14:22

I suspect one of the reasons they don't want to change the women's game to five sets, given the WTA have offered, is that scheduling the slams would be much harder (and the women's doubles and mixed doubles might also go to five sets then).

grimbletart Sun 30-Jun-13 18:39:45

Billy Jean King made an interesting point when she was interviewed at the premiere of the film made about her match with Bobby Riggs. She said that the WTA had persistently made it clear that the women were happy to play five sets but it has always been turned down, although she personally would prefer it if the men played three as they do for the non Grand Slams because it would probably mean that they could sustain a longer career in professional tennis.

It must be a scheduling issue that is preventing 5 sets at the slams for women as even the most sexist of tournament directors must have noticed that, in general, the longer a sporting event is the better women cope (think triathlon, iron man, long distance swimming challenges etc.) because women come into their own in events requiring endurance as opposed to explosive power.

Mind you I am not sure I could stand 5 sets of the screamathon that Sharapova and Azarenka put on grin. I always mute the telly when they are playing.

specialsubject Sun 30-Jun-13 19:36:39

agreed - noting that Serena Williams, Laura Robson and many others can play without the stupid shrieks. Glad to see Sharapova go out as it means the women's game is now watchable.

arsenaltilidie Sun 30-Jun-13 20:42:43

Women and men's sports is a bit like rugby and football.
Most people are not interested.

Encourage more women to play sports.
Also few sports clubs are run by women.

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