Sharapova pans male players for fighting women’s equality

FIVE- TIMES Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova has offered a dim view of male players’ support for gender equality in tennis, saying Briton Andy Murray has been one of the few “exceptions” championing the cause.

A number of prominent women in the sport have paid tribute to Murray for taking a stand against sexism and pushing for equal prizemoney at tournaments after the Briton revealed on Friday that he might be forced to retire after the Australian Open due to a troublesome hip injury.

“Relatively speaking, I think they have been really tough, especial ly when it came to equality, as a general point,” Russian Sharapova told reporters on Monday, a f ter thrashing British qualifier Harriet Dart 60 6- 0 to reach the second round.

“I mean, sitting at a press conference in Wimbledon five, seven years ago, there was not a lot of warmth coming from that side or that perspective.

“That ’ s tough. I mean, I think there is definitely a few exceptions in the game, and I’m sure that ( Murray’s) been one of them.

“But from an effort point of view and what, you know, he’s able to do for the sport and for British tennis in a sense is iconic.”