Djokovic backpedalling over women's tennis pay comments

World No.1 Novak Djokovic has met with former women's tennis greats Billie Jean King and Chris Evert to clear the air over his comments about prize money for women palyers.

Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic fielding questions from the media during the Miami Open in Key Biscayne, Florida. Source: Getty Images

World No.1 Novak Djokovic has met with former women's tennis greats Billie Jean King and Chris Evert in Miami as he continued to backpedal from comments regarding prize money for women players.
Djokovic caused a stir in Indian Wells when he suggested men should earn more prize money than women because they draw more spectators.

His comments came after Indian Wells tournament director Raymond Moore said female players should be thankful to their male counterparts "because they ride on the coattails of the men."

While Moore resigned late Monday, and Djokovic is still doing his best to clarify his stance.

He has said he does not make any distinction between the genders when it comes to distribution of the wealth.
When pressed on the issue, Djokovic insisted that he has a good relationship with his female colleagues.

But he confused the issue when he expanded his thoughts on wealth distribution that is generated at certain tournaments among higher ranked players, saying he meant all players.
Prior to Djokovic's press conference, Evert and Jean King addressed the topic, and Evert pointed to Djokovic's cultural upbringing in Serbia as a possible reason behind some of his views at their own press conference in Miami. 

Evert and King addressed the topic on their own in a press conference. - See more at:
"The Europeans were behind the Americans when it came to accepting equality," Evert said.

"I doubt you'd hear that as much from the American men players and I'm sort of applauding America for that."

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Published 24 March 2016 9:28am
Updated 24 March 2016 8:38pm
Source: AAP, SBS News


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