Denis Shapovalov makes powerful argument for equal prize money ahead of International Women’s Day

The Break: Shapovalov speaks out against tennis' gender pay gap

On the eve of International Women’s Day, Denis Shapovalov made an impassioned plea to eliminate the gender pay gap in an essay published on The Players’ Tribune.

“Let’s stop talking about reducingthe gender gap,” concludes the former Wimbledon semifinalist. “If we want tennis to be fair, it should not exist at all.”

The argument for equality is a personal one for Shapovalov, who was taught the game by mother Tessa, a former member of the Soviet National Tennis Team.

“Other coaches were prepping their kids for the game on Saturday,” he writes. She was thinking eight years ahead.”

You should be given the same opportunities regardless of gender, color, race … regardless of anything. Denis Shapovalov

Still, the Canadian recalls feeling her expertise was ignored by the Canadian Tennis Federation, who welcomed the family into their National Training Program at 10 years old.

“They wouldn’t take her advice whatsoever..She had clearly trained up a pretty talented player, and she knew my game better than anyone. So why did nobody listen to her? Why wasn’t she taken seriously?

“Was it because she was a woman?”

Shapovalov’s familiarity with sexism grew deeper when he began a relationship with WTA player Miriam Bjorklund, who provided a stark illustration of the pay disparities that continue to pervade tennis.

“Last year she qualified for a WTA 250…I said to Mirjam, ‘Oh, great! You’ll get at least $7,000 just to be in the main draw.’

“She just looked at me like I was completely new to tennis. I’ll never forget it. She was like, ‘Denis … I think it’s like a thousand dollars.’

“I was like, ‘What are you \talking \about? How is that possible??’”

While equal prize money exists at the four Grand Slam tournaments, ATP tournaments regularly outpay WTA events, Shapovalov comparing the $100,000 he earned at a 250 tournament in Seoul to the $33,200 that Jessica Pegula earned at an equivalent level event in Washington, D.C.

“Some say women don’t sell as many tickets, but when I go to matches the stadiums are full,” Shapovalov argued. “I took a picture of the stands when Mirjam was playing Daria Saville at the WTA 250 in Washington, D.C., in August last year. It was packed. The game was crazy intense. The quality was unbelievable.”

For Shapovalov, who castigates those who pay only lip service to the cause, this is an issue that extends beyond tennis, citing the Canadian women’s soccer team, who are in a similar fight for pay equality.

“You should be given the same opportunities regardless of gender, color, race … regardless of anything.”

Click here to read the full essay on The Players’ Tribune.