WIMBLEDON: Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka believes not enough is being done to ensure that women are getting treated the same as men when it comes to scheduling their matches at grand slam tournaments.
Azarenka, who is a member of the WTA Players Council, believes that she and her rivals are not given the same treatment. A debate has erupted over recent weeks due to what occurred earlier this year at Roland Garros. Due to poor weather, it was decided that both women’s semi-finals would be played outside of the principal stadium.
Questioned about the topic following her straight sets loss to Simona Halep at Wimbledon, the 29-year-old said it was an issue at all four majors. With the likes of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal being scheduled on the to biggest courts most of the time. Something organizers argue are done to meet the demand of fans.
“It’s very obvious. It’s not only the French Open. I think Grand Slams have been more equal in terms of scheduling, which is not the case obviously this year’s French Open, which was unacceptable, I believe.” Azarenka commented during her press conference.
Earlier this week at Wimbledon, Halep said she didn’t care where she plays at grand slams. Yesterday Top seed Ash Barty and 2018 champion Angelique Kerber were relegated to Court 2. Meanwhile, two of the top three men’s seeds played on the two bigger capacity courts.
“The rest of the scheduling, there is a big inequality in that, the time slots. It has to be fixed.” said Azarenka.
“Women should be getting the same scheduling, same time slots, and that’s one of the main issues I think with where we are gonna try to fight for this equality. We have been fighting a lot for equality and prize money. This is the next step, for sure.”
At Wimbledon specifically, there are always six matches on played on the two biggest courts with three featuring men and three featuring women.
Where have the top seeds played during the first three rounds?
Men
1.Novak Djokovic – Center Court twice, Court One once
2.Roger Federer – Center Court twice, Court One Once
3.Rafael Nadal – Center Court twice, Court One Once
4.Kevin Anderson – Court 3, Court 2, Center Courtwomen
1.Ash Barty – Center Court, Court One, Court 2
2.Naomi Osaka – Center Court (lost in R1)
3.Karolina Pliskova – Court two, Center Court, Court One
4.Kiki Bertens – Center Court, Court 18, Court 3
