Rivard: Andy Murray on equality in tennis  

Three-time Grand Slam and Olympic champion Andy Murray can be a champion for equality in tennis. 

Forward of the Citi Open this week, the outspoken feminist advocated for equal pay, a WTA–ATP merger and extra ladies coaches.  

First, the subject of prize cash.  

“I’m completely behind equal prize cash, and I feel that it’s good that a whole lot of the tournaments on the tour have that, and I feel that’s actually, actually constructive,” he mentioned. He even took issues one step additional, upholding a view shared by Roger Federer that the WTA and ATP ought to think about uniting.  

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“I at all times felt like after we’re competing on the identical occasion on the identical courts, we must be enjoying for a similar prize cash. However I feel for it ever to turn into like actually equal, the WTA and the ATP are literally going to have to return collectively and work as one earlier than that’s the case, as a result of I don’t assume it’s that easy simply now that each excursions have totally different sponsors, totally different TV offers, and all of that stuff, too,” added the Scotsman. 

Tennis legends like Billie Jean King, Chris Evert and John McEnroe, who notably mentioned a merger appeared inevitable and would assist develop the game, have additionally backed the concept.   

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The campaign to make extra space for ladies in tennis doesn’t cease there. Sir Andy additionally expressed his shock that there are so few ladies coaches.   

His very first coach was his mother Judy, who did double obligation together with his brother Jamie.  

Again in 2014, Andy shocked the tennis world when he employed two-time Grand Slam champion Amélie Mauresmo as his coach. He wasn’t the primary participant to be coached by a lady, however he was actually probably the most profitable and most talked about. 

“I feel it’s actually necessary,” he mentioned. “The shortage of feminine coaches is one thing that I’ve discovered stunning throughout each excursions, however notably on the ladies’s tour. I feel it’s about time that the WTA has an initiative to attempt to assist with this. Hopefully, these numbers enhance as a result of it’s a really small quantity.”  

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At Wimbledon only a few weeks in the past, solely 6 of the 128 gamers within the ladies’s major draw have been coached by ladies. That’s 5%. Within the WTA High 200, there have been 13 ladies coaches. That’s 6.5%. 

In mid-July, the nice BJK articulated her astonishment and dismay on the numbers and known as for extra ladies coaches on the skilled stage, echoing what Judy Murray herself as soon as mentioned: “It’s about society. It’s a must to see it to be it.” 

Is Novak subsequent? 

It was Roger in 2022, and it’ll be Rafa in 2024.  

Is Novak subsequent? Quickly? 

Nicely, that’s what his dad and mom mentioned they hoped in a brand new documentary, Novak Djokovic – Untold Tales, produced by the Bulgarian media group Sportal. 

The 23-time Grand Slam champion hasn’t truly mentioned something about retiring, however his mother and pop made it clear that they’re prepared for him to hold up his racquet, sooner somewhat than later.   

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“It’s all as much as him,” mentioned Dijana Djokovic. “So far as I’m involved, he can retire proper now – he has gained all the things.”  

His dad Srdjan agrees: “It’s not the tip, however in a yr and a half let’s say. My want as a father, I feel for a while that he ought to have stopped working this extraordinarily tough job. It’s bodily and mentally difficult and really demanding. With him being totally devoted for 30 years and never taking his foot off the gasoline, there may be not a lot time for different issues in life.”  

Do they know one thing the remainder of us don’t? Or is it simply wishful pondering on their half as dad and mom who need their son to be completely satisfied? 

Nole has certainly gained all of it. Dijana Djokovic is totally proper about that. 

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By the numbers, he’s the GOAT. He’s gained probably the most Grand Slam titles (23, together with 10 on the Australian Open and seven at Wimbledon), probably the most Masters singles titles (38) and probably the most ATP Finals titles (6, tied with Federer).  

If he can maintain the momentum going, he might tie Margaret Courtroom’s all-time document of 24 Grand Slam championships. 

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However what did the person himself not too long ago need to say about retirement? “I want to play so long as I probably can. I don’t have actually any quantity in my head. Issues are progressing to date fairly nicely for me. I can’t complain.” 

When he was requested about his grueling work schedule throughout Wimbledon, he known as it a way of life somewhat than an impediment, 365-day-a-year dedication. “It’s probably not one thing that I really feel prefer it’s a burden. It’s simply I select to try this, and I prefer it,” he defined. 

The chair umpire requires the coach 

Medical timeouts are frequent in tennis.  

However medical timeouts for the chair umpire? Not a lot.  

Be that as it could, that’s precisely what went down on July 30 through the ultimate of the Hamburg European Open. With eventual champion and native star Alexander Zverev up 7-5, 4-1, Mohamed Lahyani, who was in apparent ache, known as for the coach. For himself. 

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Lahyani might be the best-known chair umpire in skilled tennis and a media, fan and participant favorite, so his proper foot damage left nobody detached—not even Thanasi Kokkinakis.