Murray hits out as men hog limelight on the show courts
WIMBLEDON was last night tangled in a new sexism row after tournament chiefs scheduled more men’s matches on the top show courts.
Fans on Henman Hill were also left frustrated when big screen footage of Johanna Konta’s thrilling match was cut to show images of Andy Murray warming up.
Murray last night joined top female tennis stars in calling for the sexes to be given equal billing on Centre Court and Court Number One. Just two of the women’s fourth-round matches were played on them.
So far in the tournament the All England Tennis Club has put 25 men’s matches on the two show courts – but only 17 of the women’s ties. Meanwhile, fans gathered on Henman Hill were left disappointed when the finale of Konta’s match on Court One on the big screen was switched to show footage of Andy Murray preparing for his game.
Rob Sampson, from Essex, said: ‘The Konta match is the first successful woman in a long time, I’d like to have seen that.’
Daniel Buss, from London, added: ‘I would have liked to seen the [Konta] match through the the end.’
Murray, who played on Centre Court yesterday, agreed that the Wimbledon schedule should be more balanced. He said: ‘Ideally you would have two men’s and two women’s on Centre.
‘If there’s better matches on the women’s side than the men’s side, you can flip it. If there’s better matches on the men’s side, then that has to go first, as well.
‘So maybe starting the matches a little bit sooner, a little bit earlier in the day, and splitting them between the men and women. It’s not the hardest thing to do.’
World number one Angelique Kerber said she was ‘really surprised’ to be playing on Court Two yesterday. And Caroline Wozniaki, the world number six, said the issue had been a talking point for the last decade.
She said: ‘I think the other grand slams are more equal, positioning of men’s and women’s matches, whereas here there’s always two men’s and one women’s on Centre Court.’ Former world number one Chris Evert also called for equality on the show courts, saying: ‘That’s the way it is in the prize money now, so why not in representation on the show courts?’
Wimbledon’s second Monday traditionally features every fourthround match in the men’s and women’s singles, setting it apart from the three other Grand Slam tournaments.
But Centre Court routinely takes two of its three daily matches from the men’s draw, leaving some prominent women feeling overlooked.
Venus Williams, 37, said: ‘The scheduling has stayed the same on this day since I’ve been around. I’m sure that the women, we would want more matches on Centre or Court One over the whole fortnight.’
Asked if play should start earlier than 1pm to accommodate more women’s matches inside the largest arenas, Williams added: ‘It would be something worth considering.’ Wimbledon chief executive Richard Lewis said: ‘The schedule is tough, there are lots of matches to choose from. I wouldn’t say it’s favouritism, it’s taking marquee match-ups [big-name, popular games]. It leads to difficult decisions. ‘In the end it’s not about male female, in the end it’s about the public and broadcasters most of all want to see.’ Mr Lewis also said it would be difficult to start play on the show courts before 1pm, adding: ‘Getting to the stadiums is a challenge so three matches on Centre and One works for us. It’s a tried and tested formula.’
‘Other grand slams are more equal’