Emma Raducanu argues women’s players are ‘technically better’ in ‘unfair’ gender pay gap claim

Emma Raducanu has declared that a lot of women’s players are “technically better” than their male counterparts, who she feels rely on “brute strength”.

The 2021 US Open champion thinks the prize money gap between the ATP and WTA tours is “huge” and expressed her view that this is unfair.

Aryna Sabalenka, the two-time defending Australian Open champion and world No 2, recently drew criticism for admitting she prefers watching men’s tennis over the women’s game.

“I don’t watch their matches (her rivals),” she said at the Madrid Open. “I feel like I’ve played against them enough and that, if I face one of them again, my coach is going to show me images of their matches to analyse and prepare me.

“I’m not someone who watches too much tennis, I prefer to watch men’s tennis rather than women’s tennis, I feel like there is more strategy and it’s more interesting to watch.”

The four Grand Slam tournaments have all offered equal prize money to male and female players since 2007. There is, though, a difference in pay on the men’s and women’s tours.

At the ongoing Italian Open, the men’s singles champion will earn £750,000, which is significantly more than the £550,000 offered to the women’s winner.

Raducanu has shared her thoughts on the differences between women’s and men’s tennis and addressed the gap in prize money in the sport.

“A lot of women’s players are technically better,” the Brit told The Times. “They rely on speed, agility and brain rather than brute strength.

“The prize money gap is huge on the ATP Tour, which I don’t necessarily think is fair, but equally playing three sets in the Slams is a lot better than the men’s five, which is brutal.”

Raducanu, who made a long-awaited comeback from injury in January, holds a 9-7 record so far in 2024. Prior to her return to action, Raducanu had not played since April last year as she underwent three surgeries in May.

The current world No 212 was beaten by Maria Lourdes Carle in the opening round of the Madrid Open in her last event last month.

Raducanu, a former world No 10, is waiting to learn whether she will gain direct entry into main draw at the 2024 French Open, which will begin on May 26.