Two-time major champion Svetlana Kuznetsova believes in equal pay in tennis as she feels women players give up more in their personal lives to be on tour.
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The Russian veteran weighed in on the current debate after reaching the Miami Open finals on Friday.
“My thing is like the guys that travel on the road, right? They say they give more than we do, but they can have kids. They can have a family, right? We cannot have. I play since I am 14; since 16 I am professional. I was on the road. I was playing eight months a year every year. I didn't have anything. I gave up everything: Friends, home,” Kuznetsova said. “I think we do deserve. We give more than 100%. We give our life, private life. I think we own that.”
Kuznetsova added, “Many guys say we got to earn more than women. We're not taking their money. We just want to earn the same. I'm just saying in some part we give more than they do. Yeah, they play more matches. They are physically stronger, which men are, which is normal. But we give up much more personal space being on the tour, not being able to have normal, decent family. That's why we're equal. I think it's fair. That's it.”
The veteran admitted that the tour is expensive, especially if a player wants to have a coach and a physio with them all the time.
“Nobody ever counts what expenses players pay. You can afford only team like good fitness coach and good physio and pay a few, traveling, rooms. It will cost you a lot. You can only be top 10 to pay that. You have to understand (it’s an) investment and it's huge pressure. After you do not do so well you cannot cover your own team. They ask you a lot of money. A lot of money, I think.”
The equal pay debate has also stirred up conversation on if women should play best three out of five sets at the majors.
Kuznetsova is not in favor of that.
“I don't think it makes sense. You will see us struggle, cramping, squeezing, and yelling, and it's going to look weird. I think three sets is more than good. I think for guys it's okay to play three sets. I don't mind if they play three sets, best of three.
So, I mean, they're physically stronger. This is nature. I cannot be strong as some man. That is normal. It's up to them.”